Nanostructure of AgCI/Ag photocatalyst : "Synthesis, characterization and applications"

The silver chloride/ silver (AgCI/Ag) nanocubes were successfully doped onto the surface of magnetite-silica (Fe₃O₄-SiO₂) and maghemite-silica (YFe₂O₃-SiO₂) coreshell particles. lnthe process, the magnetite-core was prepared by using a reverse co-precipitation method while maghemite-core was prepared via the oxidation of the synthesized magnetite particles. Meanwhile, the coating of the silica layer onto the magnetic nanoparticles in the form of coreshell structure were done through a modified Stöber method. The silver chloride nanocubes were doped onto the surface of the silica-shell by the adsorption of Ag+ onto the surface of silica followed by the reaction with chloride ions and surfactant to form the AgCI nanocubes. Then part of the AgCI was reduced to Ag nanoparticles via microwave irradiation. The investigation on morphology, phase, optical and magnetic properties of the synthesized powders were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet visible spectrometer (UV -Vis) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The cubic morphology of AgCI particles with the average size of 20-30 nm were found to deposit on the iron oxide-silica surfaces while the formation of Ag nanoparticles after microwave radiation was found to be 50-60 nm in average. The absorption peaks in UV and visible region (400nm ofwavelength) indicate the existence of the AgCI/Ag particles. The synthesized particles were used in application of self-cleaning fabric (SCF), as photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and as an adsorbent for removal of Cu 2+ under UV light. The AgCI²⁺/SiO₂ particles applied in selfcleaning fabric (SCF) turned the stained cotton fabric colorless after 9 hours of exposure under the sunlight. Meanwhile, the synthesized Fe₃O₄-SiO₂/AgCI coreshell particles were used in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution and was successful to degrade 90% ofMB after 2 hours of sunlight exposure. The synthesized Fe₃O₄-SiO₂/AgCI/Ag coreshell particles were also applied as adsorbents in the removal of copper ions where approximately about 99% of Cu 2+ were removed from the solution. Therefore, these synthesized coreshell particles could be a promising photocatalyst and adsorbent in the future that can be easily recovered by the external magnetic field.