title: A new p-metal-n structure AgBr-Ag-BiOBr with superior visible-light-responsive catalytic performance.
abstract: A novel visible-light-driven AgBr-Ag-BiOBr photocatalyst was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. Taking advantage of both p-n heterojunctions and localized surface plasmon resonance, the p-metal-n structure exhibited a superior performance concerning degradation of methyl orange under visible-light irradiation (λ>420 nm). A possible photodegradation mechanism in the presence of AgBr-Ag-BiOBr composites was proposed, and the radical species involved in the degradation reaction were investigated. HO2(⋅)/(⋅)O2(-) played the same important role as (⋅)OH in the AgBr-Ag-BiOBr photocatalytic system, and both the electron and hole were fully used for degradation of organic pollutants. A dual role of metallic Ag in the photocatalysis was proposed, one being surface plasmon resonance and the other being an electron-hole bridge. Due to the distinctive p-metal-n structure, the visible-light absorption, the separation of photogenerated carriers and the photocatalysis efficiency were greatly enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology (Ministry of Education of China), School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122 (China). dongym@jiangnan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Cuiyun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Pingping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Guangli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiuming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miao
keywords: BiOBr; composite materials; photocatalysis; photodegradation; silver; visible light