Facile synthesize hierarchical tubular micro-nano structured AgCl/Ag/TiO2 hybrid with favorable visible light photocatalytic performance

Hierarchical tubular micro-nano structured AgCl/Ag/TiO2 hybrids were successfully prepared via impregnation-hydrolyzation-calcination method combining with photo-reduction method. And the fluff of chinar tree (denoted as FCT) was employed as template; TiCl4 and AgNO3 were used as titanium and chlorine source, and Ag source, respectively. The characterization results showed that the as-prepared AgCl/Ag/TiO2 hybrid possessed hierarchical tube structure and the template of FCT was crucial in inducing and assembling the unique structure of AgCl/Ag/TiO2. The dosage of AgNO3 also had significant influence on the morphology and structure of the resultant sample. The catalytic activity of AgCl/Ag/TiO2 was affected by the mass ratio of AgCl, Ag and TiO2 in hybrids. At the appropriate mass ratio of AgCl, Ag and TiO2, the resultant sample could degrade 96% tetracycline hydrochloride (TH, 10 mg L−1) after visible light irradiation 3 h. It also exhibited well stable photocatalytic activity under visible light after four cycles. The favorable activity and stability should be due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects of Ag substance and the intimate connection among Ag, AgCl and TiO2 in AgCl/Ag/TiO2. It could broaden the range of light absorption and accelerate the charge migration. The results of the trapping experiments indicated that the •O2− radicals are the vital active species of oxidation during the photocatalytic degradation process.