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Silver bromide in montmorillonite as visible light-driven photocatalyst and the role of montmorillonite

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Abstract

In this study, novel plasmonic photocatalyst, Ag/AgBr–montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposite, was prepared by dispersion method and light irradiation. The structure, composition and optical properties of such material was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The powder X-ray diffraction showed intercalation of Ag/AgBr nanoparticles into the clay interlayer space. The results showed that the prepared sample has a similar phase composition. However, their photocatalytic activity varied significantly. The photocatalytic testing result showed that the Ag/AgBr–MMT nanocomposite was more efficient photocatalyst in the discoloration of methylene blue under visible light illumination. The Ag/AgBr–MMT nanocomposite in pH = 2 and under visible light degraded 92 % of dye at the irradiation time of 20 min. MMT as matrix showed excellent role in separation efficiency of electron–hole pairs. The mechanism of separation of the photogenerated electrons and holes at the Ag/AgBr–MMT nanocomposite was discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, P.O. Box 1914, Rasht, Iran

    Sh. Sohrabnezhad & M. Razavi

  2. Department of Chemistry, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

    A. Pourahmad

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  1. Sh. Sohrabnezhad
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  2. A. Pourahmad
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  3. M. Razavi
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Correspondence to Sh. Sohrabnezhad.

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Sohrabnezhad, S., Pourahmad, A. & Razavi, M. Silver bromide in montmorillonite as visible light-driven photocatalyst and the role of montmorillonite. Appl. Phys. A 122, 822 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-016-0349-4

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