Synthesis of Z-scheme g-C3N4/Ag/Ag3PO4 composite for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of phenol and selective oxidation of gaseous isopropanol. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shen, Yuzhou; Zhu, Zedong; Wang, Xiaoguang; khan, Aimal; Gong, Jianyu; Zhang, Yanrong
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 107(2018)
• Page Start: 407
• Page End: 415
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Silver orthophosphate -- g-C3N4/Ag/Ag3PO4 composites -- Solid-gas reaction -- Z-scheme -- Visible-light-driven; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2018.08.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: g-C3N4/Ag/Ag3PO4 composite was synthesized by a simple in situ deposition method. Ag3PO4 nanoparticles exhibited regular rhombic dodecahedral morphology. Photocatalyst of g-C3N4/Ag/Ag3PO4 worked under Z-scheme mechanism. The composite showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for organics degradation. Abstract: In this study, g-C3 N4 /Ag/Ag3 PO4 composites were constructed by a simple in situ deposition method at room temperature, in which Ag3 PO4 particles with regular rhombic dodecahedrons morphology were finely coated on the surface of the g-C3 N4 sheet. The g-C3 N4 /Ag/Ag3 PO4 exhibited much improved activity comparing with other classic catalysts such as g-C3 N4 and Ag3 PO4 . The optimal photocatalyst (AC1.0 ) with Ag3 PO4 /g-C3 N4 ratio of 1 could dramatically decompose phenol under visible-light irradiation, which showed a degradation rate of 1.13 min −1 and almost 60 and 2.5 times higher than that of pure g-C3 N4 and Ag/Ag3 PO4, respectively. After 3 cycling run tests, the AC1.0 photocatalyst still maintained high photocatalytic activity. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and radical quenching tests were employed to investigate hydroxyl and superoxide radicals for organic degradation processes. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of AC1.0 was also tested for gaseous isopropanol (IPA). After 4 h irradiation, 63% of IPA was oxidized with acetone as main outcome product. The highly efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs was attributed to the construction of Z-scheme mechanism.