Ag3VO4 anchored ZnTi hydrotalcite microspheres with rosette-like structure for tetracycline degradation

Abstract The Ag3VO4/ZnTi-LDH (Ag3VO4/LDH) with 3D rosette-like structure were designed and prepared by anchoring Ag3VO4 nanoparticles on the ZnTi-LDH. The as-prepared materials were characterized by various techniques, and their photocatalytic performances for the tetracycline (TC) degradation were also investigated under simulated solar light irradiation. It was found that the Ag3VO4 nanoparticles grew on the surface of the LDH host layers, and the photocatalytic performances depended on the loading amount of the Ag3VO4 nanoparticles. The 15%Ag3VO4/LDH had uniformly distributed Ag3VO4 nanoparticles and the largest specific surface area (SBET), which increased surficial active sites to improve the photocatalytic activity. The 15%Ag3VO4/LDH exhibited an excellent photocatalytic activity with TC removal rate of 83.1%, which was about 6.3 and 6.8 times higher than those of the Ag3VO4 and ZnTi-LDH, respectively. Especially for the spent 15%Ag3VO4/LDH, the TC removal rate at the 5th cycle still kept around 95% at first cycle, and there was little change in morphological structure and surface chemical property, suggesting that the excellent structure and photocatalytic stabilities. At the same time, the probable photocatalytic mechanism was put forward, and the likely TC degradation pathway was also proposed on the basis of the intermediate products detected by GC–MS technique.