Synthesis of Ag-loaded Sb2WO6 microsphere with enhanced photocatalytic ability for organic dyes degradations under different light irradiations.

Abstract In this study, the Ag-loaded Sb 2 WO 6 photocatalysts have been successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. The as-prepared Ag-loaded Sb 2 WO 6 microspheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), high angle annular dark-field transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS) and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. Results indicate that metallic Ag was successfully grown on Sb 2 WO 6. The photocatalytic activities of the Ag-Sb 2 WO 6 photocatalysts were evaluated by degradations of MO, RhB and MB under UV light and visible light. It is found that the photocatalytic activity is excellent and superior after the decoration of the metallic Ag nanoparticles. A possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. Graphical abstract Ag-loaded hierarchical microspheres have been synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. The samples exhibited the higher photocatalytic activity under UV irradiation than pure Sb 2 WO 6. Unlabelled Image Highlights • The hierarchical Ag-loaded Sb 2 WO 6 microspheres have been prepared by solvothermal method. • Photocatalytic activity of Ag-loaded Sb 2 WO 6 was enhanced under different light irradiation. • A possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]