One-step microwave-hydrothermal synthesis of visible-light-driven Ag3PO4/LaPO4 photocatalyst induced by visible light irradiation

Cubic Ag3PO4, monoclinic LaPO4 and Ag3PO4/LaPO4 samples were successfully synthesized by a one-step microwave-hydrothermal method with and without calcination at high temperature. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectrophotometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis. Energy gaps of Ag3PO4 and LaPO4 containing in the Ag3PO4/LaPO4 composites without high temperature calcination were 2.37 eV and 4.23 eV, respectively. Their photocatalytic efficiency in degrading treatment of methyl orange was the highest of 94.0% within 20 min and 95.7% within 60 min controlled by Schottky interface, energy gap, specific surface area, pH of solution, dye concentration and catalytic content. A photocatalytic mechanism of Ag3PO4/LaPO4 composites was also proposed and discussed in detail.

Automated summary

In this study, cubic Ag3PO4, monoclinic LaPO4, and Ag3PO4/LaPO4 samples were successfully synthesized and showed high catalytic efficiency in degrading methyl orange in photocatalysis experiments. Characterization results revealed energy gaps of 2.37 eV for Ag3PO4 and 4.23 eV for LaPO4 in the composites without high temperature calcination.