Abstract
Ag3PO4/BiPO4 composite photocatalysts were constructed by a precipitation method. The composites were studied by Brunauer -Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS), electron spin-resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Ag0 plays an important role in forming •O2− and accelerating the separation of the photo-induced charge pairs, consequently the Ag3PO4/BiPO4 composites display high photocatalytic activity than the pure BiPO4 under simulated sunlight irradiation. The separation and transfer of the photo-induced charge pairs abide by a Z-scheme mechanism.