A Z-scheme visible light-driven Ag3PO4/CeO2 composite and its application for Rhodamine B degradation

Abstract

Efficient, visible-light-driven Ag3PO4/CeO2 composites with various concentrations Ag3PO4 were synthesized using a simple two-step method. The photocatalysts were characterized by various morpho-structural and optical methods, such as XRD, SEM, TEM, HR-TEM, EDX, SAED, XPS and DRS. The photocatalytic performance of Ag3PO4/CeO2 composites was investigated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B. The results shown that the photocatalytic degradation rate of 3:1 Ag3PO4/CeO2 reached 95% in 36 minutes, which is 1.6 times higher than the yield of pure Ag3PO4. The photocatalytic efficiency was the lowest for pure CeO2, reaching only 9% within 36 min. Cycling runs of 3:1-Ag3PO4/CeO2 to RhB 59% is higher than that of Ag3PO4 32%, which demonstrates that the combination and synergistic effect of CeO2 and Ag3PO4 can improve the stability of photocatalyst. After active species capture experiments, a Z-scheme reaction mechanism was also presented to elucidate the mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation process shown by the composites.