Visible-light-induced Ag/BiVO 4 semiconductor with enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial performance

An Ag-loaded BiVO 4 visible-light-driven photocatalyst was synthesized by the microwave hydrothermal method followed by photodeposition. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized samples was evaluated on a mixed dye (methylene blue and rhodamine B), as well as bisphenol A in aqueous solution. Similarly, the disinfection activities of synthesized samples towards the Gram-negative Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) in a model cell were investigated under irradiation with visible light ( λ ≥ 420 nm). The synthesized samples have monoclinic scheelite structure. Photocatalytic results showed that all Ag-loaded BiVO 4 samples exhibited greater degradation and a higher mineralization rate than the pure BiVO 4 , probably due to the presence of surface plasmon absorption that arises due to the loading of Ag on the BiVO 4 surface. The optimum Ag loading of 5 wt% has the highest photocatalytic performance and greatest stability wit...

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