Ag3PO4/Bi2MoO6 heterostructures with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B

Abstract

Highly efficient visible-light-driven Ag₃PO₄/Bi₂MoO₆ hybrid photocatalysts with different mole ratios of Ag₃PO₄ were prepared via sonochemical method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that product are cubic Ag₃PO₄ nanoparticles supported on orthorhombic Bi₂MoO₆ nanoplates. Under visible light irradiation (>420 nm), the Ag₃PO₄/Bi₂MoO₆ photocatalysts displayed the higher photocatalytic activity than pure Bi₂MoO₆ for the decolorization of rhodamine B (RhB). Among the hybrid photocatalysts, 10% Ag₃PO₄/Bi₂MoO₆ exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity for the decolorization of RhB due to the efficient separation of electron–hole pairs.