ABSTRACT A novel visible‐light‐responsive photocatalyst based on core–shell Ag‐intercalated SnO 2 /PVA nanocomposites is reported in this study for the efficient degradation of organic pollutants. The prepared nanostructures display enhanced absorption in the visible region, which is attributed to their improved electronic structure and plasmonic characteristics. The photocatalytic activity of the Ag@SnO 2 /PVA nanocomposite was assessed using representative organic dyes, including Safranin O, Rhodamine B, and Methyl Orange, in aqueous media. The experimental findings reveal rapid degradation of the dyes under natural sunlight irradiation, highlighting the excellent photocatalytic performance of the material. This improved activity is mainly due to effective separation of photogenerated charge carriers at the Ag/SnO 2 interface, which minimizes electron–hole recombination. Furthermore, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag nanoparticles enhances visible‐light harvesting and accelerates interfacial charge transfer processes. The high photocatalytic efficiency is also supported by the favorable band alignment between Ag and SnO 2 /PVA, enabling efficient charge transport and utilization during the reaction. Overall, the Ag@SnO 2 /PVA nanocomposites shows significant promise as a visible‐light‐active photocatalyst for solar‐driven applications aimed at the efficient removal of organic pollutants from wastewater.
Vijayakumar et al. (Mon,) studied this question.