Title: Enhanced photocatalytic activity of AgVO₃/TiO₂ nanorod array composite film under visible light irradiation

Authors: Tiantian Zhou; Shining Ni; Yundong Wu; Huaikai Li; Yongqiang Cao; Shengwen Fu; Xuesen Qin

Addresses: School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China ' School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China ' School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China ' School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China ' School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China ' School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China ' School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China

Abstract: The novel AgVO₃/TiO₂ nanorod array composite film (NACF) has been prepared by the hydrothermal and subsequent successive ionic layer adsorption methods. The photocatalytic films were characterised by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS). The SEM result showed that AgVO₃/TiO₂ NACF exhibited a well nanorod array structure, and some AgVO₃ nanocrystals were deposited on the TiO₂ nanorods. The novel AgVO₃/TiO₂ NACF showed the enhanced visible photocatalytic activity for degradation of methyl orange (MO) compared with the pure TiO₂ nanorod array film. The deposition of AgVO₃ nanocrystals on the TiO₂ nanorod array led to the improved visible light absorption of the composite film due to the narrow bandgap of AgVO₃ (less than 2.5 eV). The contact of AgVO₃ and TiO₂ resulted in the formation of semiconductor heterostructure, which led to the enhanced separation of photogenerated carriers. The improved visible absorption and efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs should result in the higher visible activity of composite film compared with pure TiO₂ nanorod array film.

Keywords: TiO₂ nanorod array; AgVO₃; composite film; photocatalyst.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2019.097255

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2019 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.196 - 205

Received: 14 Jun 2017
Accepted: 26 Oct 2017
Published online: 07 Jan 2019 *

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