Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Visible-Light-Driven Photodegradation of Rhodamine B on Ag-Modified BiOBr

  • Published:
Catalysis Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ag-modified BiOBr composite photocatalysts were prepared via a simple phase-transfer methodology and used for cleanup of Rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–Vis-DRS) and high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectra characterizations confirmed the Ag-modification significantly affected the optical property, structures and reactivity of the BiOBr-based photocatalysts. In the Ag-modification process, a large portion of Ag+ may extract Br1− from BiOBr and the as-formed AgBr epitaxially located along the {102} crystal surface of BiOBr. The rest Ag+ will be either photo-reduced by methanol into Ag0 or form Ag2O. In nature, the Ag-modified BiOBr materials are multi-junction photocatalysts of Ag/Ag2O/AgBr/BiOBr. The Ag-modification can greatly enhance the absorption of visible light but deteriorates the photocatalytic activity in comparison to the primitive BiOBr in visible-light-driven photodegradation of RhB. The activity of RhB photodegradation on such catalysts is inversely proportional to AgBr loading within 0.2–2.0 wt% region. Such unusual photocatalytic performance was tentatively attributed to the special band structure of the materials.

Graphical Abstract

Ag-modified BiOBr photocatalysts have been prepared via a photodeposition synthesis and used for visible-light-responsive photodegradation of refractory Rh.B. The metallic Ag, AgBr and Ag2O species were formed on the p-type BiOBr in the synthesis process and significantly affected their photocatalytic performance. The unusual photocatalytic performance of such photocatalysts was tentatively attributed to their multi-junction structure on basis of experimental evidence and theoretical analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pan JH, Dou H, Xiong Z, Xu C, Ma J, Zhao XS (2010) Porous photocatalysts for advanced water purifications. J Mater Chem 20:4512–4528

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Jiang Z, Xiao T, Kuznetsov VL, Edwards PP (2010) Turning carbon dioxide into fuel. Philos Trans R Soc A 368:3343–3364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Han F, Kambala VSR, Srinivasan M, Rajarathnam D, Naidu R (2009) Tailored titanium dioxide photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes in wastewater treatment: a review. Appl Catal A 359:25–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hernandez-Alonso MD, Fresno F, Suarez S, Coronado JM (2009) Development of alternative photocatalysts to TiO2: challenges and opportunities. Energy Environ Sci 2:1231–1257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kou JH, Gao J, Li ZS, Zou ZG (2010) Research on photocatalytic degradation properties of organics with different new photocatalysts. Curr Org Chem 14:728–744

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Jiang Z, Al-Shahrani F, Lin T-W, Cui Y, Xiao T (2007) Visible light activated mesoporous TiO2–xNx nanocrystalline photocatalyst. In: Dongyuan Zhao SQYT, Chengzhong Y (eds) Studies in surface science and catalysis, vol 165. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 355–359

  7. Jiang Z, Yang F, Luo N, Chu BTT, Sun D, Shi H, Xiao T, Edwards PP (2008) Solvothermal synthesis of N-doped TiO2 nanotubes for visible-light-responsive photocatalysis. Chem Commun 1(47):6372–6374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Luo N, Jiang Z, Shi H, Cao F, Xiao T, Edwards PP (2009) Photo-catalytic conversion of oxygenated hydrocarbons to hydrogen over heteroatom-doped TiO2 catalysts. Int J Hydrogen Energy 34:125–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kong L, Jiang Z, Xiao T, Lu L, Jones MO, Edwards PP (2011) Exceptional visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity over BiOBr–ZnFe2O4 heterojunctions. Chem Commun 47:5512–5514

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jiang Z, Yang F, Yang G, Kong L, Jones MO, Xiao T, Edwards PP (2010) The hydrothermal synthesis of BiOBr flakes for visible-light-responsive photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 212:8–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang W, Huang F, Lin X, Yang J (2008) Visible-light-responsive photocatalysts xBiOBr–(1 − x)BiOI. Catal Commun 9:8–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Huang WL, Zhu Q (2009) Structural and electronic properties of BiOX (X = F, Cl, Br, I) considering Bi 5f states. Comput Mater Sci 46:1076–1084

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Jia Z, Wang F, Xin F, Zhang B (2011) Simple solvothermal routes to synthesize 3D BiOBrxI1−x microspheres and their visible-light-induced photocatalytic properties. Ind Eng Chem Res 50:6688–6694

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hu C, Lan Y, Qu J, Hu X, Wang A (2006) Ag/AgBr/TiO2 visible light photocatalyst for destruction of azodyes and bacteria. J Phys Chem B 110:4066–4072

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Herrmann J-M, Tahiri H, Ait-Ichou Y, Lassaletta G, González-Elipe AR, Fernández A (1997) Characterization and photocatalytic activity in aqueous medium of TiO2 and Ag-TiO2 coatings on quartz. Appl Catal B 13:219–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Zhang L, Wong K-H, Chen Z, Yu JC, Zhao J (2009) AgBr–Ag–Bi2WO6 nanojunction system: a novel and efficient photocatalyst with double visible-light active components. Appl Catal A Gen 363:221–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wang P, Huang B, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Qin X, Dai Y, Zhan J, Yu J, Liu H, Lou Z (2010) Highly efficient visible light plasmonic photocatalyst Ag@AgBr. Chem A Eur J 15:1821–1824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Cheng H, Huang B, Dai Y, Qin X, Zhang X (2010) One-step synthesis of the nanostructured AgI/BiOI composites with highly enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performances. Langmuir 26:6618–6624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cheng H, Huang B, Wang P, Wang Z, Lou Z, Wang J, Qin X, Zhang X, Dai Y (2011) In situ ion exchange synthesis of the novel Ag/AgBr/BiOBr hybrid with highly efficient decontamination of pollutants. Chem Commun 47(25):7054–7056

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Butler MA (1977) Photoelectrolysis and physical properties of the semiconducting electrode WO2. J Appl Phys 48(5):1914–1920

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tang J, Ye J (2005) Photocatalytic and photophysical properties of visible-light-driven photocatalyst ZnBi12O20. Chem Phys Lett 410:104–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang K-L, Liu C-M, Huang F-Q, Zheng C, Wang W-D (2006) Study of the electronic structure and photocatalytic activity of the BiOCl photocatalyst. Appl Catal B 68:125–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Tian G, Chen Y, Bao H-L, Meng X, Pan K, Zhou W, Tian C, Wang J-Q, Fu H (2012) Controlled synthesis of thorny anatase TiO2 tubes for construction of Ag–AgBr/TiO2 composites as highly efficient simulated solar-light photocatalyst. J Mater Chem 22(5):2081–2088

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Strydom CA, Van Staden JF, Strydom HJ (1991) An XPS investigation of silver bromide-coated ion-selective electrodes. Electroanalysis 3:815–821

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Tjeng LH, Meinders MBJ, van Elp J, Ghijsen J, Sawatzky GA, Johnson RL (1990) Electronic structure of Ag2O. Phys Rev B 41:3190–3199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kaushik VK (1991) XPS core level spectra and Auger parameters for some silver compounds. J Electron Spectrosc Relat Phenom 56:273–277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Moulder JF, Stickle WF, Sobol PE, Bomben KD (1992) Handbook of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Perkin Elmer Corporation Physical Electronics Division, Eden Prairie

  28. Dharmadhikari VS, Sainkar SR, Badrinarayan S, Goswami A (1982) Characterisation of thin films of bismuth oxide by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. J Electron Spectrosc Relat Phenom 25:181–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Yu K, Yang S, He H, Sun C, Gu C, Ju Y (2009) Visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B over NaBiO3: pathways and mechanism. J Phys Chem A 113:10024–10032

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the principal’s major fund at Jesus College, University of Oxford, Oxford Challenge Seed Fund and UK Photocatalysis Network. Jiang appreciates Sir John Houghton Fellowship at Jesus College (Oxford), Shell Foundation, and the grants of Royal Society (TG092414 and TG101750). Lufeng thanks the financial support from Sinopec, China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford, OX1 3QR, UK

    Lufeng Lu, Liang Kong, Zheng Jiang, Henry H.-C. Lai, Tiancun Xiao & Peter P. Edwards

  2. Jesus College, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3DW, UK

    Zheng Jiang

  3. Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, TR10 9EZ, UK

    Zheng Jiang

Authors
  1. Lufeng Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Liang Kong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zheng Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Henry H.-C. Lai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tiancun Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Peter P. Edwards
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Zheng Jiang or Peter P. Edwards.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lu, L., Kong, L., Jiang, Z. et al. Visible-Light-Driven Photodegradation of Rhodamine B on Ag-Modified BiOBr. Catal Lett 142, 771–778 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-012-0824-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-012-0824-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation