Ag nanoparticle-decorated Bi2O3-TiO2 heterogeneous nanotubular photocatalysts for enhanced degradation of organic contaminants

Ag nanoparticle-decorated Bi 2 O 3 -TiO 2 heterogeneous photocatalysts were successfully obtained by combining facile sacrificial templates and photoreduction . The as-synthesized Ag@Bi 2 O 3 -TiO 2 photocatalysts with a narrow band gap of 2.40 eV exhibited considerable photocatalytic activity to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), and the removal efficiency reached 100% and 92%, respectively. Ag@Bi 2 O 3 -TiO 2 photocatalysts also exhibited stable recyclability for the degradation of RhB and TCH. Trapping experiments helped determine the major reactive oxidative species for TCH photodegradation . The desirable photodegradation performance is mainly attributed to improved light absorption , enhanced charge separation, and strong redox capacity of Ag@Bi 2 O 3 -TiO 2 nanostructures with S-scheme heterojunction . This work provides a facile avenue to construct heterogeneous tubular nanostructures with intensive photoabsorbance and effective photocatalysis to degrade organic contaminants.