Ag/Ag3PO4/BiPO4 nanocomposites with high photocatalytic degradation activity for 2,4-dichlorophenol

Novel Ag/Ag3PO4 nanostructure-sensitized BiPO4 (Ag/Ag3PO4/BiPO4) photocatalyst was synthesized by a Xe lamp irradiation assisted co-precipitation hydrothermal method and characterized by various technical means. In comparison with N-doped TiO2 and BiPO4, the Ag/Ag3PO4/BiPO4 nanocomposites showed much higher efficiency for photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol under visible light irradiation (lambda >= 420 nm). Among the Ag/Ag3PO4/BiPO4 nanocomposites, the Ag/Ag3PO4/BiPO4 sample (the molar ratio of Ag/Ag3PO4 and BiPO4 is 1:2) exhibited the highest photpcatalytic activity. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of AgiAg(3)PO(4)/BiPO4 could be attributed to the strong visible light absorption resulting from the surface plasmon resonance effect of metallic Ag nanoparticles and the highly efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs through Ag3PO4/BiPO4 heterojunction. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.