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The visible-light-active xAgSbO/NaNbO ( x=0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6) composite photocatalysts were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method. Composition dependences on the structure, optical, surface photoelectronic and photocatalytic properties were investigated. The absorption edge of the composites could be red-shifted increasing the amount of AgSbO in comparison with that of NaNbO. The surface photovoltage response shows the selectivity for the amount of AgSbO in the samples. The photocatalytic activities for Rhodamine B degradation exhibit a parabola-like behavior with the amount of AgSbO. The highest photocatalytic activity is observed on the AgSbO/NaNbO composite due to the better dispersiveness, electron transfer and surface photoelectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Silver antimonite samples with different Ag/Sb ratios were prepared via ion exchange method through the mediator of silver proton-exchanged compounds. With the rise in the ratio of Ag to Sb in the samples, the optical band gap decreases due to the increasing contribution of Ag4d to the valence band; the surface photovoltage decreases and photocatalytic activity increases due to surface states related to the Sb3+ in the samples. The present results indicate that appropriate amount of Sb3+ is favorable for improving the photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]