Z-scheme BiVO4/Ag/Ag2S composites with enhanced photocatalytic efficiency under visible light

The Z-scheme BiVO4/Ag/Ag2S photocatalyst was fabricatedviaa two-step route. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, HRTEM, XPS and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results of PL and photocurrent response tests demonstrate that the ternary BiVO4/Ag/Ag2S composites had a high separation and migration efficiency of photoexcited carriers. As a result, the ternary photocatalyst exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity for decomposing Rhodamine B (RhB) under LED light (420 nm) irradiation. The results of trapping experiments demonstrate both h(+)and OH play crucial roles in decomposing RhB molecules. Additionally, the energy band structures and density of states (DOS) of BiVO(4)and Ag2S were investigatedviathe density functional theory (DFT) method. Finally, a Z-scheme electron migration mechanism of BiVO4 -> Ag -> Ag2S was proposed based on the experimental and calculated results.