RbxWO3/Ag3VO4 nanocomposites as efficient full-spectrum (UV, visible, and near-infrared) photocatalysis

Photocatalytic materials that can efficiently harvest solar light from the ultraviolet (UV) region to the near-infrared (NIR) region have shown great potential for diverse applications. In this study, nanostructured RbxWO3/Ag3VO4 nanocomposites with improved photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV-visible (UV-vis) and NIR irradiation were successfully prepared via a chemical precipitation method. The resulting RbxWO3/Ag3VO4 nanocomposites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB compared with RbxWO3 and Ag3VO4 under full-spectrum exposure. When the molar ratio of RbxWO3/Ag3VO4 was 1:1, the nanocomposites exhibited the highest photodegradation rate of MB under UV (88%), visible (93%), and NIR light (76%). The photocatalytic performance was significantly enhanced owing to the extended optical absorption in the entire UV-vis-NIR region, intimate contact between the two semiconductors, efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and synergetic effect between RbxWO3 and Ag3VO4. Thus, the prepared nanocomposites are promising for the removal of organic dyes in wastewater and has potential applications in the field of environmental remediation. (C) 2019 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.