Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - National Institute of Laser Enhance Science - Department of Laser Applications Environmental Metrology photochemistry Photobiology Agriculture

Silver clusters anchored AgCI nanocubes have been facile synthesized in order to study their catalytic activity towards degradation of organic pollutants in water. The as-prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron mIcroscopy (SEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). The azo dye (acid red 33) was chosen as a model for organic pollutants and its photodegradation under visible light using the prepared AgCI and Ag/ AgCI nanocatalysts has been followed by UV -Vis absorption spectroscopy. Ag/AgCI nanocubes show high catalytic performance towards acid red 33 dye than AgCI nanoparticles in the visible region of light. A possible photocatalytic mechanism has been proposed depending on the presence of small silver clusters that formed on the surface of silver chloride nanoparticles and concentrated at the comers. The presence of silver clusters on the surface of AgCI nanoparticles enhanced the photocatalytic degradation rate (99.6%) due to their band gaps (3.44 eV and 2.38 e V) in comparison to AgCI nanoparticles (90%) that have band gap at 2.755 eV. The catalytic activity has been studied at different pH values and the highest degradation rate (99.6%) was found at pH 6.8 (neutral) compared to (96%) at pH 8.9 (basic) and (80%) at pH 3 (acid).

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