Fabrication of Ag2MoO4/CuWO4 Nanocomposite Photocatalyst for the Degradation of Rhodamine-B

Herein, we investigate the photocatalytic properties of a new Ag2MoO4/CuWO4 composite. Three different composites with 5, 10, and 15 weight percent of fine Ag2MoO4 nanostructures were precipitated on CuWO4 nanoparticles. Given the staggered valence and conduction band positions of the two components, the composite with the 10 % weight percent Ag2MoO4 loading on CuWO4 demonstrated the slowest recombination kinetics. The same composite also exhibited the best photocatalytic degradation of RhB under UV light irradiation. The photocatalytic turnover frequency of this composite was also among the best reported for RhB degradation reported in the literature. Photocatalytic kinetics, active species trapping, and various control experiments were carried out to get an insight into the photocatalytic mechanism. The optimum photocatalyst exhibited its highest activity at pH 3 and a RhB degradation turnover frequency (photocatalytic activity) comparable to the best values reported in the literature.