Fabrication of novel AgVO/BiOI nanocomposite photocatalyst with photoelectrochemical activity towards the degradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation.

In the present work, a visible light driven AgVO/BiOI nanocomposite photocatalyst with different wt % (1, 2, 3) of AgVO was fabricated by using facile hydrothermal method. Further, the nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, UV-vis DRS, photoluminescence and photoelectrochemical studies. The structural characterization showed nanorods on nanosheet surface. Among different AgVO loaded samples, the photocatalytic efficiency of 1 wt % AgVO/BiOI nanocomposite was found to be comparatively higher than the pure BiOI and AgVO. The photodegradation rate constant values of pure BiOI, AgVO and 1, 2, 3 wt % AgVO/BiOI nanocomposites are 0.006, 0.0033, 0.0255, 0.01575, 0.0116 min respectively. This enhanced photocatalytic activity was due to the increasing visible light absorption ability and efficient separation of the charge carriers. Thereby, the 1 wt % AgVO/BiOI nanocomposite photocatalyst exhibited increased photodegradation activity, photostability and recyclability characteristics. The radical trapping experiment confirmed the role of OH and h in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB. Based on this, the probable mechanism of degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation has also been proposed. Hence, we believe it could be a promising material that can be employed for the photodegradation of organic pollutants present in wastewater.