13.7 Recoverable AgX Photocatalytic Materials
The key problem that restrains the application of nano- or micro-sized AgX-based
photocatalytic materials in waste water treatment is how to effectively separate and
recycle the used photocatalysts. Traditional centrifugation and filtration strategy will
not merely cause serious loss of photocatalysts but high energy consumption
[131]. In the past 10 years, two strategies were introduced to improve the recoverability of AgX-based photocatalytic materials. One is loading the photocatalysts on
the substrates, and another is combining with magnetic components.
13.7.1 Loaded on the Substrates
Although conventional 2D substrates for loading photocatalysts, such as ITO glass
and metal foil, can be conveniently recycled, they suffer from the disadvantage of
low surface area. Thus, recently, a series of substrates with high surface area (Al 2 O 3
mesoporous microsphere, 3D graphene aerogels, and nylon mesh) were utilized to
load AgX. For instance, He et al. immobilized the plasmonic Ag–AgI with photoinduced self-stability on mesoporous Al 2 O 3 by a wet impregnation–precipitation and
in situ photoreduction method [132]. Niu et al. synthesized a novel 3D structure
AgX/GA (X ¼ Br, Cl) composites with a macroscopic block appearance
(Fig. 13.25a). Owing to the unique structure, this bulk composite material could
just be recycled by directly clipping out using tweezers and washed with deionized
water several times [133]. Tian et al. successfully fabricated Ag@AgBr gelatin film
by embedding Ag@AgBr particles into a gelatin matrix and constructing 3D network structures via the cross-linking reaction between gelatin and cross-linking
agent 1,3-bis(vinylsulfonyl) propanol, in Fig. 13.25b–e [40]. Beneficial from the
SPR effect of Ag and excellent penetrability of 3D network structure for reactants
Fig. 13.25 (a) Fabrication of the AgBr/gas 3D photocatalytic composite materials
[133]. Reproduced from Ref. [133] by permission of John Wiley & Sons Ltd. SEM images of (b)
nylon mesh; (c) Ag@AgBr grains, (d) and (e) Ag@AgBr-gelatin film loaded on nylon mesh
[40]. (Reprinted from Ref. [40], with kind permission from Springer Science+Business Media)
13.7 Recoverable AgX Photocatalytic Materials
333
The key problem that restrains the application of nano- or micro-sized AgX-based
photocatalytic materials in waste water treatment is how to effectively separate and
recycle the used photocatalysts. Traditional centrifugation and filtration strategy will
not merely cause serious loss of photocatalysts but high energy consumption
[131]. In the past 10 years, two strategies were introduced to improve the recoverability of AgX-based photocatalytic materials. One is loading the photocatalysts on
the substrates, and another is combining with magnetic components.
13.7.1 Loaded on the Substrates
Although conventional 2D substrates for loading photocatalysts, such as ITO glass
and metal foil, can be conveniently recycled, they suffer from the disadvantage of
low surface area. Thus, recently, a series of substrates with high surface area (Al 2 O 3
mesoporous microsphere, 3D graphene aerogels, and nylon mesh) were utilized to
load AgX. For instance, He et al. immobilized the plasmonic Ag–AgI with photoinduced self-stability on mesoporous Al 2 O 3 by a wet impregnation–precipitation and
in situ photoreduction method [132]. Niu et al. synthesized a novel 3D structure
AgX/GA (X ¼ Br, Cl) composites with a macroscopic block appearance
(Fig. 13.25a). Owing to the unique structure, this bulk composite material could
just be recycled by directly clipping out using tweezers and washed with deionized
water several times [133]. Tian et al. successfully fabricated Ag@AgBr gelatin film
by embedding Ag@AgBr particles into a gelatin matrix and constructing 3D network structures via the cross-linking reaction between gelatin and cross-linking
agent 1,3-bis(vinylsulfonyl) propanol, in Fig. 13.25b–e [40]. Beneficial from the
SPR effect of Ag and excellent penetrability of 3D network structure for reactants
Fig. 13.25 (a) Fabrication of the AgBr/gas 3D photocatalytic composite materials
[133]. Reproduced from Ref. [133] by permission of John Wiley & Sons Ltd. SEM images of (b)
nylon mesh; (c) Ag@AgBr grains, (d) and (e) Ag@AgBr-gelatin film loaded on nylon mesh
[40]. (Reprinted from Ref. [40], with kind permission from Springer Science+Business Media)
13.7 Recoverable AgX Photocatalytic Materials
333