Fabrication of Ag₂MoO₄/CuWO₄ Nanocomposite Photocatalyst for the Degradation of Rhodamine‐B

Herein, we investigate the photocatalytic properties of a new Ag 2 MoO 4 /CuWO 4 composite. Three different composites with 5, 10, and 15 weight percent of fine Ag 2 MoO 4 nanostructures were precipitated on CuWO 4 nanoparticles. Given the staggered valence and conduction band positions of the two components, the composite with the 10 % weight percent Ag 2 MoO 4 loading on CuWO 4 demonstrated the slowest recombination kinetics. The same composite also exhibited the best photocatalytic degradation of RhB under UV light irradiation. The photocatalytic turnover frequency of this composite was also among the best reported for RhB degradation reported in the literature. Photocatalytic kinetics, active species trapping, and various control experiments were carried out to get an insight into the photocatalytic mechanism. The optimum photocatalyst exhibited its highest activity at pH 3 and a RhB degradation turnover frequency (photocatalytic activity) comparable to the best values reported in the literature.