Preparation and application of nano-micro Ag₂CO₃ photocatalytic materials

Ag₂CO₃ is a new type of visible light responsive photocatalyst discovered in recent years, which with efficient photodegradation ability for methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB) dyes and phenols. But, Ag⁺ in Ag₂CO₃ is easy to be reduced Ag by the photogenarated e^-, which induced the fast photocorrosion and poor stability in the photocatalytic reaction process.The light absorption region, the stability and photocatalytic activities of Ag₂CO₃ semiconductor can be extended by noble metal deposition, nonmetal doping and formation of heterojunction, meanwhile, the separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs can also be promoted. The physical properties such as morphology, crystal size and crystal defects of Ag₂CO₃ can be controlled by different physical and chemical methods to obtain high specific surface area, unique morphology and high separation efficiency of photo-generated electron holes and superior photocatalytic activity. The research progress of Ag₂CO₃ nano photocatalyst is reviewed and its photocatalytic character is analyzed. The strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic activity and stability of Ag₂CO₃ are summarized and discussed, and the research prospect of Ag₂CO₃ nano-micro photocatalyst is proposed.