Synthesis of AgBr/ZnO nanocomposite with visible light-driven photocatalytic activity

Abstract

AgBr/ZnO nanocomposite was synthesized via chemical precipitation from pure ZnO nanowires, AgNO 3, and NaBr. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy results confirmed the forming of AgBr/ZnO nanocomposite. High resolution transmission electron microscopy results of the as-synthesized AgBr/ZnO nanocomposite revealed that AgBr nanoparticles were attached to the surface of ZnO nanowires. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra of both pure ZnO and AgBr/ZnO nanocomposite displayed a band gap edge at about 350–380 nm. However, compared with pure ZnO, an additional broad tail from approximately 400 nm to 700 nm appeared in the UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrum of AgBr/ZnO nanocomposite. The photocatalytic studies indicated that the as-synthesized AgBr/ZnO nanocomposite was a kind of promising photocatalyst in remediation of water polluted by some chemically stable azo dyes under visible light.