Ag2S/Ag2WO4 composite microrods,with lengths of 0.2-1μm and diameters of 20-30 nm,were fabricated by a facile sonochemical route.The as-synthesized products were intensively investigated by a series of physicochemical characterizations,such as N2 physical adsorption,X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,diffuser reflectance spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,photoluminescence spectroscopy and photocurrent response measurements.Ultrasonic irradiation yields an obvious improvement in the photocatalyst texture,for example,an increase in crystallinity and surface area.Moreover,sonochemically fabricated Ag2S/Ag2WO4 microrods display strong visible light absorption and a high transient photocurrent response.The produced intimate Ag2S/Ag2WO4interface between Ag2S and Ag2WO4 crystal phases largely promotes the separation of photogenerated holes and electrons.High photocatalytic activity and stability were obtained over Ag2S/Ag2WO4composite microrods.The dye degradation rate constant of Ag2S/Ag2WO4 was 4.7 times and 29.8times higher than that of bare Ag2WO4 and Ag2S,respectively.
Rod-shaped PbW O4 microcrystals of length 1 μm were fabricated by a hydrothermal route and subsequent calcination. Pt nanoparticles（NPs） of different contents（0.5 wt%,1 wt% and 2 wt%） were subsequently deposited on the PbW O4 microcrystals,producing robust Pt/PbW O4 composite microcrystals. The PbW O4 microcrystals and Pt/PbW O4 photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction,N2 sorption measurements,scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,and X-ray photoelectron,photoluminescence,Fourier-transform infrared,and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopies. The photocatalytic performances of the catalysts were evaluated by the consecutive photocatalytic degradation of acid orange II dye. The Pt/PbW O4 composite microcrystals exhibited high photocatalytic activity and stability. The deposition of Pt NPs produced surface plasmon resonance（SPR）,which induced a large visible light absorption. A Pt NP content of 1-2 wt% resulted in an ~2 times increase in photocatalytic activity,compared with the activity of Pt/PbW O4. The crystal structure and high crystallinity of PbW O4 resulted in its favorable photocatalytic property,and the SPR effect of the Pt NPs promoted visible light harvesting. The Pt NPs also enhanced the separation of photo-generated electrons and holes,which further promoted the photocatalytic reaction.
