Zero-valent silver decorated Ag2MoO4 nanorods: An excellent visible light active photocatalyst for persulfate ion activation with intrinsic bactericidal activity

Abstract

Here we are reporting a facile solvothermal protocol for the synthesis of Ag/Ag2MoO4 nanorod at pH 8, Ag/Ag2MoO4 synthesized and calcined at 300℃ (AM-300) shows excellent photocatalytic efficiency for RhB degradation endorsing photoactivation of persulfate (PS) ions under visible light irradiation. Almost complete degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) degradation was observed in just 75 min of visible light irradiation owning to photoactivation of PS by Ag/Ag2MoO4 nanorods, whereas merely 77.48% and 91.38% degradation of RhB was observed for Ag/Ag2MoO4 in dark and under visible light respectively in 300 min, endorsing the photocatalytic efficiency of as-synthesized Ag/Ag2MoO4. The rate constant for degradation of RhB via PS ions activation over Ag/Ag2MoO4 under visible light irradiation was 674 × 10-4 min−1 which is 8.9 times greater than that for Ag/Ag2MoO4, and is about 5 (143.4 × 10-4 min−1) times greater than Ag/Ag2MoO4/PS in dark (143.4 × 10-4 min−1). The quenchers study confirms the scavenging effect of h+ responsible for degradation of RhB. This affirms the synergistic effect of PS ions activation over Ag/Ag2MoO4. Ag/Ag2MoO4 calcined at 300℃ exhibits excellent bactericidal activity for both E. coli. and S. aureus, which paves the way for the use of Ag/Ag2MoO4 as an antibacterial material for a wide range of water decontamination.