Ag3PO4 Nanoparticles Decorated Hexagonal α-Fe2O3 Nanoplates with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance under Visible Light Irradiation

Abstract

In this work, a series of Ag3PO4 nanoparticles decorated hexagonal α-Fe2O3 nanoplates with different Ag3PO4 contents were synthesized by combining solvothermal method and ultrasonic-assisted chemical precipitation method for the first time. Structure, morphology, and chemical composition of as-synthesized products were analyzed with the aid of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectro-scopy (FT-IR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray energy dispersive analysis (EDS). Additionally, the photocatalytic performance of the samples was evaluated by investigating the degradation process of Orange II (OII) under visible-light irradiation. Compared with pure α-Fe2O3, all α‑Fe2O3/Ag3PO4 samples exhibit enhanced activity. The decoration of Ag3PO4 could enhance the photocatalytic activity of α-Fe2O3 effectively, and increasing the loading amount of Ag3PO4 could further improve the photocatalytic activity of α-Fe2O3/Ag3PO4 samples. The results of this study should be useful for the further application of α-Fe2O3/Ag3PO4 composite photocatalysts with different microstructures.