One-step synthesis of Ag3PO4/Ag photocatalyst with visible-light photocatalytic activity

Abstract

A highly efficient photocatalyst Ag3PO4/Ag was prepared by a one-step low temperature chemical bath method. The reflectance spectra (DRS) indicated Ag3PO4/Ag had strong absorption in visible light region. The synthesized Ag3PO4/Ag photocatalyst was used as the efficient photocatalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light illumination which showed almost complete degradation (∼ 98%) of RhB dye in 90 min. The negative surface of Ag3PO4/Ag photocatalyst also promoted the degradation of a cationic dye like methylene bule (MB; 78% in 90min), while the performance against an anionic dye like methyl orange was poorer (MO; 40% in 90 min). Compared to the pure Ag3PO4 photocatalyst, the Ag3PO4/Ag photocatalyst showed the enhanced visible light photocatalytic informance. The excellent photocatalytic performance is mainly ascribed to the surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles and a large negative charge of PO4 3- ions.