LAUSR

Abstract In this work, silver nanoparticles/graphene oxide nanoscroll composites (AgNPs/GO nanoscroll composites) with open-ended nanoscroll structures were synthesized as a recyclable photocatalyst. The open-ended nanoscroll structures provide sufficient space to prevent the AgNPs from oxidizing and aggregating, and the π - π continuous surface provides an abundance of pathways for AgNPs transfer during photodegradation. To demonstrate the recyclability of the synthesized photocatalytic composites, methylene blue aqueous solution was photodegraded under optimal conditions over ten consecutive photocatalytic cycles. The result shows that the AgNPs/GO nanoscroll composites are able to mineralize methylene blue to colorless within 10 min in each cycle, and no decomposition was detected after ten cycles. The AgNPs/GO nanoscroll composites could be used as a recyclable photocatalyst in wastewater treatment applications.