In situ construction of a direct Z-scheme AgBr/α-Ag2WO4 heterojunction with promoted spatial charge migration and photocatalytic performance. (28th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhai, Xiao-Ya; Zhao, Yi-Fan; Zhang, Guo-Ying; Wang, Bing-Yu; Mao, Qi-Yun
• Is Part Of: New journal of chemistry. Volume 45:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 3128
• Page End: 3137
• Publication Date: 2021-01-28
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chimie -- Périodiques; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/d0nj05965j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1144-0546

Abstract

Abstract : A hierarchical AgBr/α-Ag2 WO4 Z-scheme heterojunction was facially constructed for greatly improved photocatalytic activity towards pollutant elimination due to promoted spatial separation of carriers with high redox capacity. Abstract : In this study, a direct Z-scheme AgBr/α-Ag2 WO4 heterojunction was prepared via in situ anion exchange at room temperature. The construction strategy is energy- and time-saving for large scale syntheses. The α-Ag2 WO4 cluster was tightly anchored by converted AgBr nanoparticles of small size in the range of 5–15 nm to induce an effective interfacial effect. The visible light photoactivity of the optimal sample AgBr/α-Ag2 WO4 -20% is drastically boosted by 53.4- and 26.4-fold towards the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol, respectively. Under the exposure of simulated sunlight, the photocatalytic degradation rate of RhB is also enhanced as high as 12.4 times compared with bare α-Ag2 WO4 . Besides the enhanced light harvesting, the improved photoactivity is mainly ascribed to the accelerated spatial separation of photoexcited carriers as evidenced by PL and photoelectrochemical analyses. Based on the energy band structure and reactive oxidation species, a solid Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism at the AgBr/α-Ag2 WO4 interface is proposed and discussed. The study offers some insight into the design of hetero-photocatalysts containing the same cation with improved photocatalytic behavior in energy and environmental applications.