Facile synthesis of 1D-architecture of silver-vanadates in carbon nest for enhanced visible light driven photo-oxidation process

Abstract

Ag/AgCl/V2O5 nanocatalysts with one dimensional (1D) architecture was synthesized in carboxylic acid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes for methylene blue dye degradation. The growth of uniformly distributed nanoparticles along the carbon-nanotubes was revealed from high resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analyses. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses also confirmed for the creation of defects in the multi-walled carbon nanotube. The hybrid nanocomposite appeared as a suitable photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue dye absorbing the light in the visible range of solar spectrum. The presence of interactions within the nanoparticles and with the nanotubes was believed to enhance the photo-oxidation process. The creation of defects in the carbon nanotube on modification with Ag/AgCl/V2O5 improved the photocatalytic activity by enhancing the photoelectron transfer process. About ∼90% of the total organic carbon of the dye molecule was found to decompose into CO2, H2O and inorganic ions within 25 min under sunlight.