Ag3PO4 quantum dots sensitized AgVO3 nanowires: A novel Ag3PO4/AgVO3 nanojunction with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

• Ag3PO4/AgVO3 heterostructure was successfully synthesized.
• The heterostructure included Ag3PO4 QDs assembling on the surface of AgVO3 nanowires.
• Ag3PO4/AgVO3 nanowires exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Ag3PO4/AgVO3 heterojunctions with high photocatalytic activities were synthesized via a simple and practical low-temperature solution-phase route by using AgVO3 nanowires as substrate materials. The as-prepared Ag3PO4/AgVO3 heterojunctions included Ag3PO4 quantum dots assembling uniformly on the surface of AgVO3 nanowires. Compared with pure AgVO3 nanowires, Ag3PO4/AgVO3 composite photocatalysts exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activities under visible light irradiation in the decomposition of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) ethanol solution. The enhanced performance is believed to be induced by the high specific surface area, strong visible-light absorption originating from the quantum dot sensitization of Ag3PO4, and high efficient separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs through Ag3PO4/AgVO3 heterojunction.

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