Enhanced Photocatalytic Reduction of Cr (Vi) Using Ag@Agcl/Rgo/Cuo Nanocomposite Using Visible Light Irradiation

Abstract

This study investigated the photocatalytic activity of three nanocomposites - Ag@AgCl, Ag@AgCl/RGO, and Ag@AgCl/RGO/CuO - by measuring the reduction of Cr (VI) under visible light.  The photocatalyst samples were characterized using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results showed that the addition of CuO and RGO co-catalysts significantly enhanced the photocatalytic reduction of Cr (VI) in the plasmonic Ag@AgCl sample. Among three samples, the Ag@AgCl/RGO/CuO as a novel plasmonic photocatalyst exhibited the best photocatalytic reduction of Cr (VI) to Cr (III) under visible light, achieving 98% reduction after 45 min. The improved photocatalytic performance of the Ag@AgCl/RGO/CuO was attributed to increased visible light absorption and decreased electron–hole recombined rate. The Ag@AgCl/RGO/CuO also demonstrated reaction rate constant of 0.086 min-1, approximately 17 times faster than that of Ag@AgCl.

Keywords: Photocatalysis, Surface plasmon resonance, Plasmonic photocatalysts, Cr (VI) removal