Plasmonic photocatalytic system using silver chloride/silver nanostructures under visible light

Plasmonic photocatalytic nanostructured system was investigated on silver chloride/silver nanoparticles under visible light. Silver chloride/silver nanoparticles were readily prepared using dispersing agent and light irradiation. The d-spacing analysis, high resolution-transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy demonstrated that silver nanoparticles were introduced on the surface of silver chloride nanoparticles and then silver chloride/silver nanostructured photocatalytic materials were successfully synthesized. The as-synthesized plasmonic photocatalysts exhibited the enhanced photocatalytic performance over nitrogen-doped titania nanomaterials. The improved catalytic activity was originated from the enhanced adsorption for visible light, electron-hole separation, and the formation of chloride atoms in silver chloride/silver nanostructured materials.