Hierarchical flower-like SnSe2 supported Ag3PO4 nanoparticles: Towards visible light driven photocatalyst with enhanced performance

• A novel Ag3PO4/SnSe2 composite photocatalyst was synthesized.
• Nano-sized Ag3PO4 particles were decorated on the surface of three-dimensional SnSe2 sheets.
• Ag3PO4/SnSe2 displayed enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability under visible light than pure SnSe2 and Ag3PO4.
• A possible Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism under visible light irradiation was proposed.

A novel three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical flower-like Ag3PO4/SnSe2 composite photocatalyst was successfully prepared via an in situ precipitation method. The composition, microstructure and optical properties of the Ag3PO4/SnSe2 composites were thoroughly investigated. Nano-sized Ag3PO4 particles were uniformly dispersed on the surface of 3D flower-like SnSe2. The obtained Ag3PO4/SnSe2 composites presented enhanced performance for photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) compared with pure Ag3PO4 and SnSe2 under visible light irradiation. The Ag3PO4/SnSe2-6 composite exhibited the optimal efficiency for photocatalytic decomposition of RhB, approximately 4.2 and 26 times higher than those of pure Ag3PO4 and SnSe2. Significantly, the superior stability was also observed after four cycles. The enhanced performance of the Ag3PO4/SnSe2 composites under visible light was ascribed to a synergistic effect including the matched energy band structures, increased light harvesting and boosted separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers. A possible photocatalytic mechanism of the composite was also discussed.

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