Straightforward synthesis and mechanism insight of TiO₂/α′-AgVO₃ heterostructure with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract With the deterioration of our environment, it is imperative to develop high-performance photocatalysts for ‘green’ environmental protection. In this work, a novel TiO 2 / α ′-AgVO 3 heterostructure has been successfully synthesized by a straightforward hydrothermal method for the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). Specifically, TiO 2 / α ′-AgVO 3 with a molar ratio of 4:1 displays excellent stability and outstanding photodegradation efficiency, which can remove 94% RhB within 120 min visible light irradiation. The free radical capture experiments demonstrate that h + and ·OH act as pivotal parts in the photodegradation of RhB. Additionally, the enhanced photocatalytic performance of TiO 2 / α ′-AgVO 3 heterostructure is mainly attributed to the appropriate surface areas, broadened range of light adsorption, more photocarrier generation, and effective charge separation. This research reveals that TiO 2 / α ′-AgVO 3 heterostructure is an efficient visible light photocatalyst and is expected to be applied in organic sewage degradation.