Novel visible-light-responsive Ag/AgCl@MIL-101 hybrid materials with synergistic photocatalytic activity

In this paper, a novel visible-light responsive photocatalyst of Ag/AgCl@MIL-101 was synthesized via vapor diffusion-photoreduction strategy. The as-prepared composite material was characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Due to the synergistic effect between Ag/AgCl and MIL-101, the composite photocatalyst exhibited an enhanced and stable photoactivity for the degradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The relationship between the photocatalytic activity and the structure of Ag/AgCl@MIL-101 hybrid material was discussed and the possible reaction mechanism was proposed.