Ag3PO4 Nanoparticles Decorated Carbon Nitride Nanotube to Boost Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity for the Degradation of Azo Dyes

An efficient and stable photocatalyst consisting of Ag3PO4 nanoparticles coupled with carbon nitride nanotubes (G-C3N4) for the degradation of azo dyes was firstly prepared by in-situ deposition method. The Ag3PO4 decoration significantly improved the photocatalytic activity of G-C3N4, in which Ag3PO4/G-C3N4 with mass ratio of 15 % could achieve the degradation efficiency of 95 % within 20 min. And the kinetic constant of degradation reaction was up to 0.14 min(-1), which has around 22.5 times enhancement compared with that of G-C3N4. The heterojunction between Ag3PO4 and G-C3N4 accelerates the efficient separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers, and the Ag nanoparticles verified to be generated by the photoreduction of Ag3PO4 can also act as an internal channel to promote the charge transport. In addition, the effect of the concentration of both catalyst and dye on the photocatalytic activity was further investigated. The proposed Z-scheme catalytic mechanism of the composite photocatalyst was also proved.

Automated summary

An efficient and stable photocatalyst consisting of Ag3PO4 nanoparticles decorated on carbon nitride nanotubes (G-C3N4) was prepared. The Ag3PO4 decoration significantly improved the photocatalytic activity of G-C3N4, achieving a degradation efficiency of 95% within 20 minutes and an enhanced kinetic constant of degradation reaction compared with G-C3N4. The heterojunction between Ag3PO4 and G-C3N4 accelerates the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers, and Ag nanoparticles act as an internal channel for charge transport.