Synthesis and characterization of AgO nanostructures by precipitation method and its photocatalyst application

In this research, a precipitation method was used in order to synthesize AgO nanostructures with the aid of silver nitrate as the starting reagent in an aqueous solution. To examine the effect of different surfactants such as glucose, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide on the morphology and particle size of final products several tests were performed. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of as-obtained products were characterized by techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Furthermore, the hysteresis loop measured at room temperature shows a ferromagnetic behavior of the AgO nanostructures. To evaluate the catalytic properties of nanocrystalline silver oxide (AgO), the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine-B under visible light irradiation was carried out.