Rodlike AgI/Ag(2)Mo(2)O(7) Heterojunctions with Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity

[Image: see text] Novel AgI/Ag(2)Mo(2)O(7) heterojunctions were prepared by reacting Ag(2)Mo(2)O(7) microrods with an aqueous KI solution at room temperature. The composite materials, compared with neat AgI and Ag(2)Mo(2)O(7), showed much higher activities in the photocatalytic degradation of aqueous rhodamine B, methyl orange, tetracycline hydrochloride, and levofloxacin solutions under visible-light irradiation. The structures, morphologies, and other physicochemical properties of AgI, Ag(2)Mo(2)O(7), and AgI/Ag(2)Mo(2)O(7) composites were studied via various characterization techniques. The active species involved in the photocatalytic process were examined via radical-capturing experiments and electron spin resonance. Superoxide anion radicals ((•)O(2)(–)) and photogenerated holes (h(+)) were found to be the main active species. Photocatalytic mechanisms were proposed and reasons for the enhanced photocatalytic activity were explained.