Enhancing the photocatalytic performance of Ag3PO4 by incorporating g-C3N4 and MWCNTs: Optimisation of removal of Acid Blue 92

Abstract

The main aim of the present study was to enhance the degradation capacity of Acid Blue 92 (AB92) by visible-light-active Ag3PO4 nanocomposites based on g-C3N4 and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs). The nanocomposites were fabricated through a tunable in situ deposition method. The properties of the resulting samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity results revealed that the Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 heterojunction inorganic/organic composite exhibited an improvement in both efficiency and the rate of AB92 photodegradation in comparison with the others. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 heterostructure under visible light irradiation is mainly ascribed to the interfacial effect of the nanocomposite in inhibiting the unfavourable recombination of photogenerated electron/hole pairs, the synergistic effect and the energy band structure. A possible mechanism for the improved photocatalytic activity of the Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite is also proposed.