Single-crystalline AgIn(MoO4)2 nanosheets grafted Ag/AgBr composites with enhanced plasmonic photocatalytic activity for degradation of tetracycline under visible light

Abstract

Single-crystalline AgIn(MoO4)2 nanosheets have been successfully fabricated by facile hydrothermal method without any surfactants. Subsequently, Ag/AgBr-grafted AgIn(MoO4)2 nanosheets were synthesized by the in situ photoreduction of AgBr/AgIn(MoO4)2 composites prepared by a deposition–precipitation method. Under visible light irradiation. The Ag/AgBr/AgIn(MoO4)2 composites exhibit a strong absorbance in the visible region because of the surface plasmon resonance absorption of Ag nanocrystals. Compared with bare AgIn(MoO4)2 nanosheets, Ag/AgBr nanoparticles and Ag/AgIn(MoO4)2 composites, a dramatic enhancement in the degradation rate of tetracycline (TC) is observed over the Ag/AgBr/AgIn(MoO4)2 composites. The immense enhancement of the photocatalytic activity is attributed to the extended absorption in the visible-light region, effective charge separation, and synergistic enhancement induced by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the heterostructured Ag/AgBr/AgIn(MoO4)2. This study provides new insight into the fabrication of highly efficient and stable ternary metal molybdate based plasmonic photocatalysts and facilitates their practical application to solve environmental issues. The mechanism for the photodegradation of TC over Ag/AgBr/AgIn(MoO4)2 is discussed in detail.