Synthesis and characterization of Ag/AgCl/Bi₂Zr₂O₇ photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance

Novel visible-light-driven Ag/AgCl/Bi₂Zr₂O₇ plasmonic photocatalysts were successfully synthesized through a two-step process. Bi₂Zr₂O₇ nanosheets were firstly prepared via a precipitation-calcination method, and Ag/AgCl nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of Bi₂Zr₂O₇ nanosheets by an ultrasonic-assisted precipitation-photoreduction technique. The composition, phase structures, morphologies and optical properties of the Ag/AgCl/Bi₂Zr₂O₇ catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the Ag ions were finally formed on the surface of AgCl by in situ photoreaction. The visible-light photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples was investigated by the degradation of methyl orange aqueous solution. Compared to Bi₂Zr₂O₇, the Ag/AgCl/Bi₂Zr₂O₇ photocatalysts showed superior photocatalytic activities, which sould be attributed to the high specific surface area of the catalysts, the surface plasmon resonance effects of Ag and the formation of a heterostructure between Ag, AgCl and Bi₂Zr₂O₇. It would provide a promising candidate material for environment remediation.