Recent progress in Ag3PO4-based all-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalytic systems

Heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysis is a promising green technology solution to energy and environmental problems. Traditional photocatalyst TiO2, with a wide band gap of 3.2 eV, can only be excited by UV light and utilizes less than 4% of solar energy. Silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) is among the most active visible-light-driven photocatalysts reported. Unfortunately, unwanted photocorrosion is the main obstacle to the practical application of Ag3PO4. Much effort has been made in recent years to address this issue and further enhance the photocatalytic performance of Ag3PO4. The construction of Z-scheme photocatalytic systems that mimic natural photosynthesis is a promising strategy to improve the photocatalytic activity and stability of Ag3PO4. This brief review concisely summarizes and highlights recent research progress in Ag3PO4-based all-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalytic systems with or without a solid-state electron mediator, focusing on their construction, application, and reaction mechanism. Furthermore, the challenges and future prospects of Ag3PO4-based Z-scheme photocatalytic systems are discussed. (C) 2017, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.