A visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of vanadate garnet AgCa2Ni2V3O12 nanoparticles

A visible-light-driven photocatalyst of nanosized vanadate garnet AgCa2Ni2V3O12 was prepared by a modified Pechini method. The nanoparticles were characterized with the measurements such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and structural refinements, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and UV–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectrum. The sample has an efficient absorption in the UV–Vis light region with a narrow band-gap energy of 2.16 eV and an indirect allowed electronic transition. Besides, the photocatalysis of AgCa2Ni2V3O12 nanoparticles was evaluated by photo-degradation of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation, which shows excellent photocatalytic activity. The effective photocatalytic activity was discussed on the base of the garnet crystal structure such as the activated optical centers of Ni–O octahedron and V–O tetrahedral, highly distorted Ag–O dodecahedra, and long V–V distance in the lattices.