Ag3PO4-coconut shell derived carbon composite for visible light driven photocatalysis

Ag3PO4-coconut shell derived carbon (Ag3PO4-CSC) composites were successfully synthesized via a hydrother-mal method. To find out the optimum amount of the Ag3PO4 and CSC phases to achieve enhanced photocatalytic property, Ag3PO4-CSC composites with different weight percentages of coconut shell derived carbon (CSC) (1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 wt%) were developed. Structural, morphological and photocatalytic properties of the prepared composites were explored. As compared to the bare Ag3PO4, the photocatalytic activity of the Ag3PO4-CSC composite has substantially improved with the addition of CSC. Composite sample with 10 wt% of CSC loading exhibits a high photodegradation coefficient of 0.40 min-1 under sunlight irradiation which is about 13 times higher than that of Ag3PO4. The studies indicate that the approach is very simple and cost effective for devel-oping visible light driven photocatalysts with superior catalytic activity.

Automated summary

Ag3PO4-coconut shell derived carbon (Ag3PO4-CSC) composites were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The addition of coconut shell derived carbon (CSC) substantially improved the photocatalytic activity of Ag3PO4. Composite samples with 10 wt% CSC loading exhibited a 13-fold higher photodegradation coefficient compared to bare Ag3PO4 under sunlight irradiation.