Z-scheme photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/tetrahedral Ag3PO4 hybrids under visible light

Highly efficient visible-light-driven g-C3N4/tetrahedral Ag3PO4 hybrid photocatalysts with different weight ratios of g-C3N4 were prepared by a facile in-situ precipitation method. Under visible light irradiation, the g-C3N4/tetrahedral Ag3PO4 photocatalysts displayed higher photocatalytic activity than pure tetrahedral Ag3PO4 and g-C3N4 for the decolorization of methyl orange (MO) and O2 evolution from water. On top of the superior photocatalytic performance of highly reactive facets of tetrahedral Ag3PO4, the hybridization with g-C3N4 was confirmed to further improve the photocatalytic activity, and the content of g-C3N4 had a great influence on the photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity enhancement of g-C3N4/tetrahedral Ag3PO4 hybrids can be ascribed to the efficient separation of electron-hole pairs through a Z-scheme system composed of Ag3PO4, Ag and g-C3N4, in which Ag nanoparticles act as the charge separation center.