Enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of Ag/AgI coupled Bi2O2CO3 microspheres

Abstract Ag/AgI nanoparticles decorated flower-like Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 were prepared via a solvothermal precipitation-deposition-photoreduction method. The Ag/AgI/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 heterojunction with the Ag/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 molar ratio of 0.3/1 (0.3AAB) achieved the highest activity under visible light, and the degradation rate constant was 28 or 1 times higher than that by using pristine Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 or Ag/AgI. The remarkable boosting of photocatalytic activity is due to the synergistic effect of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) from Ag and the heterojunction between Ag/AgI and Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 . The photogenerated holes and superoxide radical primarily govern the RhB degradation. Ag/AgI/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 holds great potential for environmental remediation.