Development of stable and porous AgO-loaded hydroxyapatite nanocomposites for enriched photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B under visible light.

A simple and inexpensive process from natural phosphate in the presence of Ag ions was used to develop AgO-loaded hydroxyapatite nanocomposites. The structural and textural characterization of the nanocomposites suggests that the AgO nanoparticles are well dispersed on the hydroxyapatite (HAp). The prepared nanocomposites show efficient Rhodamine B (RhB) dye photocatalytic degradation in water under visible and UV-visible light irradiation. Meanwhile, the photocorrosion instability and photosensitivity disadvantages of AgO could be largely solved when loaded into hydroxyapatite, which works as an electron sink receiving the electrons photogenerated by AgO and fixes the by-products onto the porous matrix. These composites demonstrate a practical potential for the remediation of toxic water contamination under various irradiation sources.