Synthesis of dual Z-scheme flower-like spherical Ag3PO4/MoS2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst with high photocatalytic performance

The excellent photoresponse of semiconductors enables them as a promising photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and antibiotics, but their practical applications are limited by photogenerated carrier recombination, instability, and fixed energy band positions. Herein, we designed and synthesized a dual Z-scheme flower-like spherical Ag3PO4/MoS2/g-C3N4 (AMN) photocatalyst loaded with different mass of g-C3N4 (3, 5 and 7 mg). Under visible light irradiation, MoS2 enhanced the light absorption range of AMN composite. The holes concentrated in the valence band of Ag3PO4 provide strong oxidation capacity, and the electrons retained in conduction band of g-C3N4 provide strong reduction ability in the photocatalytic system. It is helpful to improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and enhance the photocatalytic activity of AMN composite. The AMN photocatalyst loaded with 5 mg g-C3N4 (AMN-5) has the optimal photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the photocatalyst for methylene blue (MB) within 24 min is 3.98, 1.85, and 1.17 times that of g-C3N4, Ag3PO4, and Ag3PO4/MoS2, respectively. After three cycles, the degradation efficiency of AMN-5 for MB decreased from 99.44% to 90%, about 3.79 times of Ag3PO4 (23.77%). In addition, the optimal AMN-5 photocatalyst also has excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency for Rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline (TC). This design and concept provide a promising insight for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants.

Automated summary

A dual Z-scheme flower-like spherical Ag3PO4/MoS2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst loaded with different mass of g-C3N4 was designed and synthesized, showing enhanced photocatalytic activity and efficient separation of photogenerated carriers for the degradation of organic pollutants.