Enhanced broad spectrum (vis-NIR) responsive photocatalytic performance of Ag2O/rectorite nanoarchitectures

Abstract Although semiconductor/clay photocatalysts have attracted great attention because of their special structures, it is still challenging to achieve higher efficiency under broad spectrum light, even near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. Herein, we reported the synthesis of wide-spectrum light responsive Ag 2 O/rectorite (Ag 2 O/R) nanocomposites via a simple chemical precipitation method. The experimental results showed that Ag 2 O nanoparticles were properly loaded on rectorite and the nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity in the presence of visible light and near-infrared light irradiation. Compared to pure Ag 2 O and rectorite, 70% Ag 2 O/rectorite nanocomposite exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance for the degradation of RhB and MO in aqueous solution under visible light and NIR irradiation. Moreover, the Ag 2 O/rectorite nanocomposites exhibited the highest stability after five recycled photocatalytic degradation experiments under visible and NIR light. Based on the radical trapping experiment, it was found that O 2 − is active radical species in photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in the presence of visible light and NIR irradiation. Finally, a possible photocatalytic degradation mechanism of pollutants by Ag 2 O/R nanocomposite was proposed. The current work would offer strong potential in the implementation of clay-based photocatalysts with wide-spectrum light response and be valuable for environmental remediation.