Synthesis and visible light photocatalytic performance of Ag₃PO₄/ZnO@carbon sphere ternary heterostructure

Using flower-like ZnO@carbon sphere (ZnO@C) as precursor, Ag3PO4/ZnO@carbon sphere (Ag3PO4/ZnO@C) ternary composites were synthesized via an in-situ precipitation method, Ag3PO4 nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of the ZnO@C. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, Raman, UV-Vis DRS and transient photocurrent responses. The visible light photocatalytic performance of samples was also investigated. The results show that the photocatalytic performance of Ag3PO4 can be improved by combining with ZnO@C. Among the samples, AP-Z-5(5%(mass fraction) ZnO@C and Ag3PO4) shows the best photocatalytic performance. It can nearly completely degrade methylene blue (MB) after 20min illumination in the presence of 5mg/L Fe(NO3)3, and remain 86% degradation rate after 4 cycles. Additionally, AP-Z-5 can degrade MB very well even in the mixed contaminant solution including Cr(VI) and MB