In situ synthesis of Ag3PO4/C3N5Z-scheme heterojunctions with enhanced visible-light-responsive photocatalytic performance for antibiotics removal

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2021-02, Vol.754, p.141926-141926, Article 141926
• Main Authors: Yin, Hongfei, Cao, Ying, Fan, Tianle, Zhang, Min, Yao, Jiacheng, Li, Pengfei, Chen, Shenming, Liu, Xiaoheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ag3PO4/C3N5; Heterojunctions; Photocatalytic; TCH degradation; Z-scheme
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141926

Environmental pollution caused by antibiotics-containing wastewater has attracted increasing attention. Considering the superior photocatalytic performance and the issue of photo-corrosion over silver-based photocatalysts, it is desirable to construct silver-based photocatalysts with high photostability. Herein, a serious of Ag3PO4/C3N5 nanocomposites with Z-scheme band alignment were rationally designed and fabricated for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) removal. A variety of characterizations were employed to systematically study the phase structure, morphology and microstructure, optical properties, surface chemical states, and photocatalytic performance of the as-fabricated photocatalysts. The as-prepared Ag3PO4/C3N5 nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity and photochemical stability than a single component toward TCH removal, meanwhile, the photocatalytic performance was not increased with the increasing amount of Ag3PO4. The possible photocatalytic mechanism (Z-scheme mechanism) was investigated and verified. The Z-scheme heterojunctions formed between Ag3PO4 and C3N5 is the main reason for the enhanced photocatalytic activities. [Display omitted] •Ag3PO4/C3N5 nanocomposites were successfully fabricated for the first time.•The CNAP3 exhibited superior photocatalytic performance and photostability.•The possible Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was proposed and verified.