Preparation of ternary Ag/Ag₃PO₄/g-C₃N₄ hybrid photocatalysts and their enhanced photocatalytic activity driven by visible light

The preparation of a series of ternary Ag/Ag₃PO₄/g-C₃N₄ hybrid photocatalysts, which display enhanced photocatalytic activity, was reported. The crystal structure, morphology, composition, optical absorption, and efficient separation of charge carriers were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements. Using rhodamine B as a model contaminant, the as-prepared Ag/Ag₃PO₄/g-C₃N₄ hybrid photocatalyst exhibited superior degradation performance under visible light irradiation than Ag₃PO₄ or binary Ag₃PO₄/g-C₃N₄ hybrid photocatalyst systems. The surface plasmon resonance of the 40 nm-silver nanoparticles formed on the surface of Ag₃PO₄ and the heterojunction formed at the interface between Ag₃PO₄ and g-C₃N₄, are considered to be the major physical-chemical origin and to be responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity.