mpg-C₃N₄/Ag₂O Nanocomposites Photocatalysts with Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Performance

Abstract

To study the photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation, a series of mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg-C₃N₄)/Ag₂O photocatalysts were synthesized. The as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂ adsorption Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (N₂-BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), and photoluminescence spectra (PL) methods to determine their phase structure, purity, morphology, spectroscopic and photoluminescence emission performance, respectively. Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) aqueous solution under visible-light irradiation indicated that the mpg-C₃N₄/Ag₂O-50 nanocomposite exhibited the best activity. The degradation rate of MO reached to 90.8% in 120 min onto the mpg-C₃N₄/Ag₂O-50 nanocomposite, and as compared with the pure mpg-C₃N₄ and Ag₂O samples, the photocatalytic activity of the mpg-C₃N₄/Ag₂O-50 nanocomposite was greatly enhanced. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity was mainly ascribed to the enhanced visible-light absorption ability and the formation of p-n heterojunctions between counterparts of the nanocomposites, which promoted the generation and separation of charge carriers.