ZnO nanostructures sensitized by Ag3VO4 nanoparticles prepared by microwaveirradiation and their photocatalytic activities under visible-light irradiation

In recent years, heterogeneous photocatalytic processes have been considered as a costeffectiveand green technology for removal of different pollutants from wastewaters [1]. Highstability, low-cost, and non-toxicity are the main appealing properties of ZnO asconventionally widespread used photocatalyst [2]. Due to its wide band gap of about 3.2 eV,ZnO has poor photocatalytic activity under solar irradiation. Hence, enhancing photocatalyticactivity of this semiconductor is of great importance. For this reason, numerous efforts havebeen paid to prepare visible-light-driven photocatalysts based on ZnO [2]. Owing to itsnarrow band gap, Ag3VO4 has potential applications in preparation of many visible-lightdrivenphotocatalysts [3]. Hence, for the first time, photocatalytic activity of the ZnOnanostructures sensitized by Ag3VO4 nanoparticles prepared using microwave-irradiationapproach was investigated under visible light.