Ternary Z-scheme photocatalyst of Ag3PO4 with nitrogen-doped graphene and g-C3N4 for efficient removal of tetracycline. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Qian; Gao, Xin; Wang, Yifei; Li, Hui; Zhang, Yanlin; Fan, Yanping; Niu, Jing
• Is Part Of: Materials science in semiconductor processing. Volume 104(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Tetracycline -- Silver orthophosphate -- g-C3N4 -- Nitrogen-doped graphene -- Photocatalytic degradation; Semiconductors -- Periodicals; Integrated circuits -- Materials -- Periodicals; Semiconducteurs -- Périodiques; Circuits intégrés -- Matériaux -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 621.38152
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2019.104689
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8001

Abstract

Abstract: Photocatalytic technologies capable of using solar energy for environmental restoration have much progressed with the increasing environmental concern. In this study, the ternary photocatalyst Ag3 PO4 /NG/g-C3 N4 conforming to the Z-scheme mechanism was prepared by a facile in-situ deposition method. Its morphology, chemical composition and optical property were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Such photocatalyst (0.50 g/L loading) achieved the highest 93.6% degradation rate of tetracycline (TC), and 72% mineralization rate of TC comparing with single Ag3 PO4 (25% mineralization rate of TC). The detection of reactive oxidative species indicates that the photodegradation of TC is mainly caused by holes, O2 − and OH. The synergistic effect of Ag3 PO4, nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) and g-C3 N4 in the composite accelerates the separation and migration of photogenerated carrier via a solid electron mediator NG, and simultaneously inhibits the photo-corrosion of Ag3 PO4, thereby improving the photo-stability of the ternary photocatalyst.