Photocatalytic activity of Ag/Al2O3–Gd2O3 photocatalysts prepared by the sol–gel method in the degradation of 4-chlorophenol |
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Authors: | A. Barrera,F. Tzompantzi,J. Campa-Molina,J. E. Casillas,R. Pé rez-Herná ndez,S. Ulloa-Godinez,C. Velá squez,J. Arenas-Alatorre |
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Abstract: | The photocatalytic activity in the degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-ClPh) in aqueous medium (80 ppm) using 2.0 wt% Ag/Al2O3–Gd2O3 (Ag/Al–Gd-x; where x = 2.0, 5.0, 15.0, 25.0 and 50.0 wt% of Gd2O3) photocatalysts prepared by the sol–gel method was studied under UV light irradiation. The photocatalysts were characterized by N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, SEM, HRTEM, UV-Vis, XPS, FTIR and fluorescence spectroscopy. About 67.0% of 4-ClPh was photoconverted after 4 h of UV light irradiation using Ag/γ-–Al2O3. When Ag/Al–Gd-x photocatalysts were tested, the 4-ClPh photoconversion was improved and more than 90.0% of 4-ClPh was photoconverted after 3 h of UV light irradiation in the materials containing 15.0 and 25.0 wt% of Gd2O3. Ag/Al–Gd-25 was the material with the highest efficacy to mineralize dissolved organic carbon, mineralizing more than 85.0% after 4 h of UV light irradiation. Silver nanoparticles and micro-particles of irregular pentagonal shape intersected by plane nanobelts of Al2O3–Gd2O3 composite oxide were detected in the Ag/Al–Gd-25 photocatalyst. This material is characterized by a lowest recombination rate of electron–hole pairs. The low recombination rate of photo-induced electron–hole pairs in the Ag/Al–Gd-x photocatalysts with high Gd2O3 contents (≥15.0 wt%) confirmes that the presence of silver nanoparticles and microparticles interacting with Al2O3–Gd2O3 composite oxide entities favors the separation of photo-induced charges (e− and h+). These materials could be appropriate to be used as highly efficient photocatalysts to eliminate high concentrations of 4-ClPh in aqueous medium.Ag/Al2O3–Gd2O3 showed high efficacy to photodegradate 4-chlorophenol, the strong interaction between silver nano-particles and micro-particles and Al2O3–Gd2O3 entities favors the decrease in the recombination rate. |
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