Combination of Au-Ag Plasmonic Nanoparticles of Varied Compositions with Carbon Nitride for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Ibuprofen under Visible Light

Au-Ag/g-C3N4 nanohybrids 2-3 were synthesized by the one-pot self-reduction of the organometallic precursor [Au2Ag2(C6F5)(4)(OEt2)(2)](n) in the presence of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), leading to two populations of alloyed Au-Ag nanoparticles (NPs) of different size and composition on the surface of g-C3N4, i.e., Ag-enriched Au-Ag NPs of smaller size and Au-enriched Au-Ag NPs of larger size. The combination of these two types of plasmonic NPs with g-C3N4 semiconductor displays enhanced photocatalytic properties towards the degradation of ibuprofen under visible light by the increased charge carrier separation provided by the inclusion of the plasmonic NPs on g-C3N4.

Automated summary

The Au-Ag/g-C3N4 nanohybrids were synthesized by self-reduction of an organometallic precursor, resulting in two populations of alloyed Au-Ag nanoparticles on g-C3N4 surface. The combination of these nanoparticles with g-C3N4 semiconductor exhibited enhanced photocatalytic properties towards ibuprofen degradation under visible light.