被撤回的出版物: Synthesis of an efficient, stable and recyclable AgVO3/ZnO nanocomposites with mixed crystalline phases for photocatalytic removal of rhodamine B dye (Retracted article. See vol. 33, pg. 12525, 2022)

Herein, we report synthesis of novel AgVO3-ZnO heterojunction with exceptional photocatalytic reactivity through simple and low cost chemical route. The physicochemical properties were investigated by XRD, FTIR, BET, HRTEM, EDS, XPS, DRS and PL. The formation of Zn3V2O7(OH)(2)and Ag(4)V(2)O(7)mixed crystalline phases indicating a strong chemical interaction between cubic ZnO and AgVO(3)nanorods with length 35 nm and diameter 12 nm. The batch photocatalytic experiments showed that the nanocomposite containing 15 wt% AgVO(3)displays an exceptional removal of 92% RhB dye compared with 40% removal on the surface of ZnO single phase. Noticeably, the photocatalytic rate of the nanocomposite is tenfold higher than that of single oxide. The exceptional removal of RhB dye can be ascribed to the creation of heterojunction between ZnO and AgVO(3)that enhance the quantum efficiency of photogenerated charge separation. The heterojunction involves electron transfer from CB of ZnO with more negative potential to CB of AgVO(3)of less negative potential that reduces the band gap energy to 2.43 eV. Photogenerated positive hole and hydroxyl radicals were demonstrated by charge carriers-capture experiments as the main reactive species. The findings of our research revealed that AgVO3/ZnO is a potential photocatalyst for removing organic toxic pollutants in environmental remediation.