Investigations of Interfacial Electric Field on Reduced‐Graphene‐Oxide‐Supported Molybdenum Oxide @ Silver Phosphate Ternary Hybrid Composite: Highly Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalyst

Abstract

Abstract Reduced graphene oxide supported molybdenum oxide @ silver phosphate (RGO‐MoO 3 @Ag 3 PO 4 ) ternary hybrid composite was prepared by simple mixing of RGO supported MoO 3 nanorods into Ag 3 PO 4 nanosphere. Upon visible light exposure, the photocatalytic degradation of MB revealed that the 30 wt.% RGO‐MoO 3 @Ag 3 PO 4 photocatalyst led to 2.9 times higher activities than pure Ag 3 PO 4 , 6.2 and 8.7 times compared to RGO‐MoO 3 and pure MoO 3 , respectively. Degradation of MB using 30 wt.% RGO‐MoO 3 @Ag 3 PO 4 is 2.9 and 15 times higher compared to RhB and MO respectively. The downward band bending of Ag 3 PO 4 at the interface of RGO‐MoO 3 @Ag 3 PO 4 was investigated based on the electric field formed. The formed electric field at the interface of RGO‐MoO 3 @Ag 3 PO 4 is found to be 50 mV which avoids the recombination rate of electron‐hole pairs at the interfaces. This formed electric field promotes the higher separation efficiency of electrons‐holes pairs and longer life time of photoexcited electrons in the RGO‐MoO 3 @Ag 3 PO 4 resulting higher efficiency and stability. RGO act as an electron acceptor and transporter during charge transfer process between MoO 3 and Ag 3 PO 4 .