Highly efficient Z-Scheme Ag3PO4/Ag/WO3−x photocatalyst for its enhanced photocatalytic performance

• The reducibility of WO2.72 can be used to prepare the Z-scheme photocatalysts.
• The preparation method can enhance the interfacial binding force of Ag3PO4/Ag/WO3−x.
• Ag3PO4/Ag/WO3−x possesses excellent photocatalytic performance under visible light.

The Z-Scheme Ag3PO4/Ag/WO3−x photocatalyst was prepared through an in situ deposition method. Originally, WO2.72 with hierarchical sea urchin-like structure was mixed with excessive Ag+ ions. The weak reducibility of WO2.72 was utilized to in situ reduce Ag+ into Ag, and Ag nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of WO2.72. Subsequently, an appropriate amount of PO43− ions was directly added dropwise to combine with the remaining Ag+ ions, as a result, the Ag3PO4 nanoparticles was, therefore, in situ deposited on the surface of Ag/WO3−x, and the Z-Scheme Ag3PO4/Ag/WO3−x photocatalyst was obtained. The experimental results illustrate that, for the Z-Scheme Ag3PO4/Ag/WO3−x photocatalyst, Ag nanoparticles serve as carrier-transfer centers, effectively prolong the lifetime of the photoinduced electrons generated by Ag3PO4 and the photoinduced holes generated by WO3−x, and therefore improve the photocatalytic degradation performance. The utilization of the weak reducibility of the transition metal oxides has been explored as an effective strategy to fabricate Z-scheme ‘reduced state transition metal oxide/noble metal/semiconductor’ photocatalysts with enhanced photocatalytic performance.

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