Co3O4 nanoparticles decorated Ag3PO4 tetrapods as an efficient visible-light-driven heterojunction photocatalyst

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 181; pp. 707 - 715
• Main Authors: Tang, Chunni, Liu, Enzhou, Wan, Jun, Hu, Xiaoyun, Fan, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Cobalt oxide; Heterojunction; Photocatalysis; Silver phosphate; Cobalt oxide; Silver phosphate; Photocatalysis; Heterojunction
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2015.08.045

[Display omitted] •Ag3PO4 tetrapods were synthesized via a precipitation method.•Co3O4/Ag3PO4 photocatalysts were synthesized via an impregnation method.•Co3O4/Ag3PO4 composites showed superior photocatalytic activity and stability.•The mechanism of the high performance was proposed as well. Novel Ag3PO4 tetrapods with exposed {111} facets were synthesized via a facile precipitation method, and then Co3O4 nanoparticles were decorated on the surface of Ag3PO4 tetrapods using an impregnation method. On top of the superior photocatalytic performance of highly reactive {111} facets of Ag3PO4 tetrapods, the Co3O4/Ag3PO4 heterostructured photocatalyst exhibited further improved efficiency in photodegrading methyl blue (MB) under visible light irradiation (>400nm). In addition, the Co3O4 content and calcination temperature had significant impacts on the photocatalytic activities of the samples. The highest efficiency was observed on the 2.0wt% Co3O4/Ag3PO4 heterojunction calcined at 673K. The improved photocatalytic performance could be mainly attributed to accelerated electron-hole separation by p–n junctions in Co3O4/Ag3PO4 heterojunction, and the enhanced structural stabilities may be due to the protection of insoluble Co3O4 and the effect of Ag0 on the surface of Ag3PO4. Moreover, h+ played the major role in the MB decolorization.