Enhanced photocatalytic performance of mesoporous TiO2 by incorporating Ag3VO4 nanoparticles for degradation of tetracycline under visible light

A novel mesoporous Ag3VO4/TiO2 nanocomposites were constructed by a low-cost sol–gel approach using Pluronic P-65. The photocatalytic abilities of obtained Ag3VO4/TiO2 nanocomposites were performed by the tetracycline degradation under visible illumination compared with pure TiO2 and P-25 photocatalysts. The Ag3VO4/TiO2 photocatalyst demonstrated superior visible light-induced photocatalytic abilities in tetracycline degradation compared with P-25 and pure TiO2. When the Ag3VO4 content in nanocomposites was 3%, it exhibited the maximum photocatalytic abilities among all synthesized nanocomposites. The tetracycline could be entirely degraded (100%) over Ag3VO4/TiO2 photocatalyst under visible illumination within 90 min. The rate constant of 3% Ag3VO4/TiO2 nanocomposite for the degradation of tetracycline was 10.99 and 31 times that of pure TiO2 and P-25. The increment photocatalytic ability was referred to as the separation efficiency of interface charge and the synergistic effects between Ag3VO4 and TiO2. The construction of Ag3VO4/TiO2 nanocomposite enlarged the absorption of visible light with red-shift to a longer wavelength in the visible region. The surface area of Ag3VO4/TiO2 nanocomposites (188 m2g−1) was beneficial for photodegradation efficiency. The present work highlights advantageous insight into fabricating highly effective visible light photocatalysts in practical applications.