Novel visible-light AgBr/Ag3PO4 hybrids photocatalysts with surface plasma resonance effects

► Novel AgBr/Ag3PO4 hybrids are synthesised by a facile method.
► AgBr/Ag3PO4 hybrids show excellent photocatalytic activities under visible light.
► Interstitial ions are in favour of the formation of Ag particle.
► Surface plasmon resonance effect plays a key factor for light absorption.
► The photocatalytic mechanism for AgBr/Ag3PO4 hybrids is studied.

Three kinds of AgBr/Ag3PO4 hybrids were synthesised via an anion-exchange precipitation method and characterised by XRD, XPS, SEM, EDS, and UV–vis. The results showed that AgBr/Ag3PO4 hybrids displayed much higher photocatalytic activities than single Ag3PO4 or AgBr under visible light (λ>420 nm), and ·OH and h+ were the major active species during the degradation process. Considering interstitial ions Agi+ on lattice gap of AgBr are easy to become sliver particle, we deduced the possible photocatalytic mechanism could be ascribed to the synergistic effects of the appropriate valence band position of Ag3PO4 and AgBr, surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag0, reactive radical species Br0, and the Ag vacancy on the surface of catalysts.

The optical absorption and structural morphology of the as-prepared AgBr@Ag3PO4 photocatalyst using an anion-exchange precipitation method are conductive to the photocatalytic degradation of organics in water.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide