AgInO2 nanoparticles: Novel solvent-free synthesis, characterization, and their visible-light-induced photocatalytic activities

ABSTRACTThe current study presents a successful synthesis of AgInO2 (AIO) nanostructures via a novel, green, and low-cost solid-state thermal decomposition route for the first time. Prepared silver (I) salicylate, [Ag(HSal)], was utilized as a new appropriate precursor to obtain AgInO2 nanostructures. As-synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR, DRS, XPS, and EDS. Furthermore, the efficiency of AIO nanoparticles as a photocatalyst for the decolorization of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation was evaluated. The synthesized AIO nanoparticles exhibited a remarkable photocatalytic activity and in the presence of AIO, 99.99% degradation of RhB was obtained after 210 min. A preliminary feasibility study on the development of a solar cell having the FTO/AIO/CdS/Pt-FTO and FTO/TiO2/AIO/Pt-FTO structures was also investigated.