l-Arginine assisted preparation of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic performance

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 26; no. 5; pp. 2775 - 2781
• Main Authors: Chen, You-Cun, Cheng, Jinnan, Cheng, Jun, Cheng, Si
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.05.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomolecules; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diffraction; Dyes; Materials Science; Nanocomposites; Optical and Electronic Materials; Photocatalysis; Scanning electron microscopy; Silver; X-rays; Zinc oxide; Zinc Acetate Dihydrate; Noble Metal Nanoparticles; Photocatalytic Activity; Methyl Orange; Nanocomposite Material
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-015-2758-0

In this article, the Ag/ZnO metal–semiconductor nanocomposites with hierarchical structure have been synthesized by a facile solvothermal method with the assistance of biomolecule ( l -arginine). The results suggest that this biomolecule-assisted solvothermal method is an efficient route for the fabrication of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites. During the reaction process, the l -arginine served as both a shape controller and a reducing agent of silver ions. The as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray power diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The photocatalytical activity of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites was also investigated by UV–Vis spectrophotometer. And the results display enhanced photocatalytic activity in degradation of methyl orange under the ultraviolet irradiation.