Synthesis of flower-like Ag/AgCl-Bi2MoO6 plasmonic photocatalysts with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance

A novel plasmonic photocatalysts of Ag/AgCl-Bi 2 MoO 6 was successfully synthesized via a simple and mild wet-chemical process. The physical and photophysical properties of the as-prepared Ag/AgCl-Bi 2 MoO 6 samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), electron spin resonance (ESR), photoluminescence emission spectra (PL) and surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPV). The interaction between Ag/AgCl and Bi 2 MoO 6 has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and which is facile to the electron transfer between Ag/AgCl and Bi 2 MoO 6 and result in the enhancing photocatalytic activity of Ag/AgCl-Bi 2 MoO 6 composite. The photocatalytic experiments indicate that the Ag/AgCl species can efficiently promote the separation efficiency of photo-generated charge carriers in Bi 2 MoO 6 , and consequently improve the RhB photodegradation activity. The 20   wt% Ag/AgCl-Bi 2 MoO 6 sample shows the highest photocatalytic activity, the degradation constant of 20   wt% Ag/AgCl-Bi 2 MoO 6 was as high as 4 times to that of pure Bi 2 MoO 6 . A possible catalytic mechanism for Ag/AgCl-Bi 2 MoO 6 is proposed, which can be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect from Ag/AgCl species.