A Z-scheme visible-light-driven Ag/Ag3PO4/Bi2MoO6 photocatalyst: synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity

A Ag/Ag3PO4/Bi2MoO6 hybrid was successfully prepared for the first time via an in situ precipitation method. The as-prepared Ag/Ag3PO4/Bi2MoO6 hybrid included Ag3PO4 nanoparticles (NPs) as well as Ag NPs assembling on the surface of Bi2MoO6 nanosheets. Under visible light irradiation (lambda > 420 nm), the Ag/Ag3PO4/Bi2MoO6 hybrid photocatalyst degraded rhodamine B (Rh B) efficiently and showed much higher photocatalytic activity than pure Ag3PO4, Bi2MoO6, Ag/Ag3PO4, Ag/Bi2MoO6, or Ag3PO4/Bi2MoO6. It was elucidated that the excellent photocatalytic performance of Ag/Ag3PO4/Bi2MoO6 for the degradation of Rh B under visible light could be ascribed to the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes through the Z-scheme system composed of Ag3PO4, Ag and Bi2MoO6, in which Ag NPs acted as the charge transmission-bridge. The quenching effects of different scavengers illustrated that O-2(center dot) and h(+) played the major role in Rh B degradation.