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Preparation of Ag/AgBr–Bi2MoO6 Plasmonic Photocatalyst Films with Highly Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

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Abstract

The novel plasmonic photocatalyst Ag/AgBr–Bi2MoO6 was successfully synthesized using a facile method. The composites were made into films in this study. The physical and photophysical properties of the as-prepared Ag/AgBr–Bi2MoO6 samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy, photoluminescence emission spectroscopy, and electrochemical experiments. Photocatalytic activity was assessed through the decomposition of methylene blue in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The conclusion that Ag/AgBr species can improve the separation efficiency of charge carriers irradiated by visible light in Bi2MoO6 comes from the phenomenon that the higher photocatalytic property of all composites than that of pure Bi2MoO6. Moreover, 25 wt% Ag/AgBr–Bi2MoO6 exhibited 7.8 times higher degradation constant than that of the pure Bi2MoO6 and optimal photoactivity. The possible mechanism of the improvement of photocatalytic performance of Bi2MoO6 after introducing Ag/AgBr nanoparticles was discussed based on the theory of surface plasmon resonance effect from Ag species.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 21276036), National Key Technology Support Program (2014BAB12B06), Program for Liaoning Excellent Talents in University (No. LJQ2015013) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Nos. 3132016065 and 3132016341).

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  1. Key Laboratory of Ship-Machinery Maintenance and Manufacture for Ministry of Transport, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, China

    Yujun Liu, Feng Zhou, Su Zhan & Yifan Yang

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  1. Yujun Liu
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  2. Feng Zhou
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  3. Su Zhan
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  4. Yifan Yang
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Correspondence to Feng Zhou.

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Liu, Y., Zhou, F., Zhan, S. et al. Preparation of Ag/AgBr–Bi2MoO6 Plasmonic Photocatalyst Films with Highly Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity. J Inorg Organomet Polym 27, 1365–1375 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-017-0590-0

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