Ag/BiOI/C enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

The Ag/BiOI/C composite photocatalyst was synthesized by high-temperature tube furnace calcination method. The Ag/BiOI/C (0.5:2:3) sample showed the greater competence for the photocatalytic remove of the typical methylene blue dye compared with the pristine BiOI and BiOI/C under visible light exposure. The characterization was confirmed the Ag and C could synergistically enhance the photocatalytic performance. Among, the Ag and C worked as electron acceptors enhanced separation effectiveness of photo-induced electron-hole pairs and suppressed their recombination. Further, trapping experiments displayed that the ·O2− and h+ were the major function in the photo-degradation of methylene blue. A possible mechanism was proposed for the novel photocatalyst.