Synthesis of AgCl/Ag/AgCl core-shell microstructures with enhanced photocatalytic activity under sunlight irradiation

In this research, AgCl/Ag/AgCl core-shell microstructures have been synthesized at room temperature through a facile in situ method. The as-synthesized unique microstructures were characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD, XPS, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. And their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by degradation of methyl orange (MO) under UV, visible and sunlight irradiation. Comparing with the commercially available P25-TiO2 and AgCl/Ag core-shell microstructures, our as-prepared samples gave the highest reactivity (almost 100% decomposition in 20 min) under direct sunlight irradiation. Their excellent photocatalytic activities are ascribed to the unique three-layered AgCl/Ag/AgCl core-shell microstructures, leading to improved electron-hole (e(-) -h(+)) separation efficiency and promoting the inside charge carriers promptly transferred to the surfaces. In addition, their photocatalytic activity did not show any loss after four-time recycles, revealing high stability. In brief, the as-synthesized three-layered AgCl/Ag/AgCl core-shell microstructures exhibit their promising potential as efficient sunlight-driven photocatalysts for organic pollutants degradation. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.