Preparation and photocatalytic properties of visible light driven AgAgBr/attapulgite nanocomposite

An efficient visible light photocatalyst of AgAgBr/attapulgite nanocomposite was prepared via the reaction between Ag+ and Br- ions in the presence of attapulgite and then reducing partial Ag+ ions to Ag0 species via the light-induced chemical reduction. Characterization methods, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–visible diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS) were employed to study the phase structure, chemical state and optical properties of the nanocomposite. The AgAgBr/attapulgite nanocomposite exhibited an efficient photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution under visible light radiation (λ > 400 nm). In addition, the photoactive radical species involved in the degradation reaction have been investigated by using the HO‐trapping photoluminescence (PL) spectra and quenching experiments. A possible photodegradation mechanism of RhB dye by the AgAgBr/attapulgite nanocomposite was postulated.