Size-Dependent Photocatalytic Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Embedded in ZX-Bi Zeolite Supports

In this study, the photocatalytic activity of highly dispersed silver (Ag) embedded into ZX-Bi zeolite during methanol (MeOH) photooxidation under visible light and at room temperature was investigated. The size dispersion Agn?+ subnanoclusters (<1 nm) studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), diffuse-reflectance UV–vis, in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), etc. Catalytic tests were performed using operando FTIR technique MeOH as a model reaction. results showed that as-prepared Ag/ZX-Bi had very low activity, while activated sample 200 °C (Ag/ZX-Bi_200) exhibited highest (49.60 mmol·g–1·cm–2 after 12 h reaction) photooxidation, more than 6 times higher TiO2-P25 used reference. This originated from migration agglomeration subnanosized clusters Ag nanoparticles (NPs) with nm. However, catalyst experienced partial desactivation when particle sintered NPs below 20 deactivation will be discussed on basis HRTEM analysis different stages