Fabrication of Ag/AgBr/AgVO3 heterojunctions with improved photocatalytic performance originated from enhanced separation rate of photogenerated carriers

Ag/AgBr/AgVO3 heterojunctions were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The formation of Ag/AgBr/AgVO3 heterojunctions was proven by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The separation behaviors of photoinduced carriers were investigated by surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS), the results display that the separation rate of photoinduced carriers of Ag/AgBr/AgVO3 heterojunctions was dramatically promoted. The photocatalytic performance of the samples was evaluated by the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). The results reveal that Ag/AgBr/AgVO3 heterojunctions exhibit remarkably improved sunlight photocatalytic activity for RhB degradation. The considerable improvement in the photocatalytic property of Ag/AgBr/AgVO3 heterojunctions can be mainly ascribed to the efficient separation of photoinduced carriers.