Highly stable and efficient Ag/AgCl@TiO2 photocatalyst: preparation, characterization, and application in the treatment of aqueous hazardous pollutants.

A new plasmonic photocatalyst of Ag-AgCl@TiO(2) was prepared by deposition-precipitation and photoreduction. This photocatalyst exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity for the degradation of 4-chlorophenol and photoreduction of Cr(VI) ion under visible light irradiation. Its high photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles, which were highly dispersed on the surface of Ag-AgCl@TiO(2). N(2) adsorption and desorption isotherm spectra, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the correlation between the micro-structure and the catalytic properties of the as-prepared photocatalysts.

Synthesis of ZnO nanoflowers and their wettabilities and photocatalytic properties.

By combing laser direct writing and hydrothermal growth, we demonstrate the growth of three-dimensional flowerlike ZnO nanostructures from aqueous solution. Our approach offers synthetic flexibility in controlling film architecture, coating texture and crystallite size. The wettability is studied by measurement of time-dependent contact angles in the as-grown samples. In addition, superior photocatalytic activity of the flowerlike ZnO nanostructures in the degradation of Rhodamine B is investigated as well. The influence factors and formation mechanism of the flowerlike ZnO nanostructures are also analyzed and discussed.

High activity and selectivity of Ag/SiO2 catalyst for hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate.

Ag/SiO(2) prepared by a sol-gel process is highly effective for selective gas-phase hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate to corresponding alcohols. The catalysts are of great potential as industrially viable and novel catalysts for the production of methyl glycolate and ethylene glycol.