Highly Efficient Visible Light Plasmonic Photocatalysts Ag@Ag(Cl,Br) and Ag@AgCl‐AgI

Abstract

Abstract New plasmonic photocatalysts Ag@Ag(Cl,Br) and Ag@AgCl‐AgI were synthesized by the ion‐exchange process between AgCl and a potassium halide (KBr, KI), then by reducing some Ag + ions in the surface region of Ag(Cl,Br) and AgCl‐AgI particles to Ag 0 species. The Ag nanoparticles were formed from Ag(Cl,Br) and AgCl‐AgI by a light‐induced chemical reduction. The Ag@Ag(Cl,Br) and Ag@AgCl‐AgI particles have irregular shapes and their sizes vary between 100 nm and 1.3 μm. The as‐grown plasmonic photocatalysts show strong absorption in the visible‐light region, owing to the plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles. The ability of this compound to oxidize methylic orange and reduce Cr VI under visible light was compared with those of other reference photocatalysts. These plasmonic photocatalysts have been shown to be highly efficient under visible‐light irradiation.