Preparation of AgCl with enhanced photocatalytic activity using ionic liquid as chlorine source

Abstract

In this study, Ag/AgCl photocatalysts were prepared by using chloride ionic liquid (IL) as a chlorine source. The structure, composition, morphology, light response ability and surface properties of IL-AgCl were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectra, specific surface area and surface photovoltage spectrum. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was investigated by measuring the residual concentration of rhodamine B used as a simulated pollutant. The experimental results show that the ionic liquid can promote the stability of AgCl, furthermore, all the IL-AgCl photocatalysts have a higher separation rate of photogenerated charge pairs than the reference AgCl. The surface properties and photocatalytic activity of AgCl prepared tightly relate to the type of IL used, among all the AgCl prepared, AgCl prepared by 1-carboxyethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride has the best catalytic activity.