Decorating hierarchical Bi2MoO6 microspheres with uniformly dispersed ultrafine Ag nanoparticles by an in situ reduction process for enhanced visible light-induced photocatalysis

In this work, we have demonstrated an efficient Sn (II) mediated in situ reduction strategy to assemble silver nanoparticles on Bi2MoO6 microspheres. The Ag loading can be readily controlled by varying the volume of Ag (NH3)2OH aqueous solution. Meanwhile, the ultrafine silver spherical nanoparticles with uniform diameters are free of protection ligands and are well dispersed on the surface of Bi2MoO6 nanosheet without aggregation even at high loading. Photocatalytic test demonstrated that as-adopted in situ reduction strategy was an effective means to enhance the photocatalytic activity of Bi2MoO6 nanosheet-based microspheres under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). The enhancement performance is believed to be induced by the intimate contact interface, where silver nanoparticles serve as good electron acceptor for facilitating quick photoexcited electron transfer and thus decreasing electron–hole recombination.