Enhanced photocatalytic properties of Bi<inf>2</inf>MoO<inf>6</inf> nanoplates deposited with intermetallic AgPd nanoparticles by photoreduction method

Abstract

Bi2MoO6 nanoplates modified with intermetallic AgPd nanoparticles synthesized by photoreduction deposition method were used for visible-light-driven photodegradation of rhodamine B. The as-synthesized AgPd/Bi2MoO6 nanocomposites were identified by XRD. The 2θ diffraction angle of the (111) plane of pure metallic cubic Ag at 38.11° of heterostructure 10% Ag/Bi2MoO6 nanocomposites shifted to a higher diffraction angle at 38.17° of heterostructure 10% Ag0.7Pd0.3/Bi2MoO6 nanocomposites. TEM images of the as-synthesized nanocomposites showed good metallic Ag and intermetallic AgPd nanoparticles with particle size of 10–12 nm which were fully supported on top of Bi2MoO6 nanoplates. Bi2MoO6 nanoplates deposited with intermetallic AgPd nanoparticles show significant photocatalytic activity better than Ag/Bi2MoO6 and Bi2MoO6 due to the formation of AgPd/Bi2MoO6 Schottky barrier.