Titanium phosphate nanoplates modified with AgBr@Ag nanoparticles: A novel heterostructured photocatalyst with significantly enhanced visible light responsive activity

Abstract

AgBr@Ag modified titanium phosphate composites were fabricated through a two-step approach. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The optical properties of the composites were characterized by using UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of the composites were investigated on the degradation of Rhodamine B and ciprofloxacin under visible light irradiation. AgBr@Ag/titanium phosphate was determined to exhibit considerably higher photocatalytic activity than the corresponding individual components. The mechanism on the enhancement of the photocatalytic activity was proposed based on the results of photoluminescence spectra and photocurrent measurements. Furthermore, the possible photocatalytic mechanisms of organic compounds degradation were also proposed.