AgI nanoparticles-decorated CeO(2) microsheets photocatalyst for the degradation of organic dye and tetracycline under visible-light irradiation.

In this paper, CeO2 microplates were synthesized by a sol-gel auto-combustion method. AgI nanoparticles (NPs) were then deposited onto the surface of CeO2 via a facile deposition-precipitation method. The as-prepared AgI/CeO2 samples were characterized by various analytical techniques. The composites exhibited superior photocatalytic activities for the organic dyes (RhB) and the refractory pollutant (tetracycline (TC), a typical antibiotic) degradation under visible light irradiation. The CA-19.03 sample exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be ascribed to the improved separation of photogenerated charge carriers due to well-matched band structure.