Low-cost and efficient visible-light-driven CaMg(CO3)2@Ag2CO3 microspheres fabricated via an ion exchange route

Abstract

CaMg(CO3)2 microspheres were prepared and used as hard templates to fabricate a series of CaMg(CO3)2@Ag2CO3 composite microspheres via a fast and low-cost ion exchange process. The effects of ion exchange time and temperature on the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activities of the composite microspheres were studied through photocatalytic degradation of Acid Orange II under xenon lamp irradiation. The obtained samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N2 physical adsorption, and photocurrent tests. The CaMg(CO3)2@Ag2CO3 sample with the highest activity was obtained with an ion exchange time of 4 h and temperature of 40 °C. The degradation rate of Acid Orange II by this sample reached 83.3% after 15 min of light irradiation, and the sample also performed well in phenol degradation. The CaMg(CO3)2@Ag2CO3 produced under these ion exchange conditions showed a well-ordered hierarchical morphology with small particle sizes, which was beneficial to light absorption and the transfer of photoelectrons (e−) and holes (h+) to the catalyst surface. Moreover, the separation of photogenerated·carriers over the composites was greatly improved relative to bare CaMg(CO3)2. Despite the very low content of Ag2CO3 (2.56%), excellent photocatalytic performance was obtained over the CaMg(CO3)2@Ag2CO3 microspheres.