Development of novel Ag modified BiOF squares/g-C3N4 composite for photocatalytic applications

A novel Ag modified BiOF/g-C3N4 (Ag-BiOF/g-C3N4) organic–inorganic hybrid photocatalysts have been synthesized by a facile solvothermal route. The photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV-DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic studies reveals that the as-prepared Ag-BiOF/g-C3N4 photocatalyst exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity than the pure BiOF and BiOF/g-C3N4 photocatalysts toward degrading methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The heterostructured combination of Ag, g-C3N4 and BiOF micro squares provides synergistic photocatalytic performance through an efficient electron transport mechanism.