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Efficient solar photocatalyst based on Ag3PO4/graphene nanosheets composite for photocatalytic decolorization of dye pollutants

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Abstract

Silver orthophosphate-graphene nanosheets composite (Ag3PO4-GNs) has been fabricated using a facile hydrothermal method. The Ag3PO4-GNs were characterized using XRD, UV–vis DRS and SEM. The photocatalytic activity of Ag3PO4-GNs was evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of dye aqueous solutions under simulated solar light irradiation. It was observed that Ag3PO4 nanoparticles in Ag3PO4-GNs were attached on the surface of graphene nanosheets.The introduction of graphene nanosheets enhanced remarkably the visible light absorption region of Ag3PO4-GNs compared with bare Ag3PO4. The photocatalytic activity of Ag3PO4-GNs is nearly twice as high as that of the pure Ag3PO4. The removal efficiency can reach more than 90 % by Ag3PO4-GNs under simulated solar light irradiation within 25 min, which might mainly be attributed to high adsorption capacity, extended light absorption range and efficient charge separation. After irradiation for 60 min, 84.70 % TOC mineralization was achieved by Ag3PO4-GNs. Based on the results of detection of active species, the direct oxidization of dye pollutants in aqueous solution by holes takes a major role in the whole decolorization process by Ag3PO4-GNs. As a result, Ag3PO4-GNs with the high photocatalytic activity are proven to be an excellent light photocatalyst for potentially scalable removal of dyes in aqueous solutions and other environmental remediation under simulated solar light irradiation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Grant No. LY15E080002, LY14B070011 and LY15E020002) and the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51208331), the Foundation of China Scholarship Council (Grant No. 201308330411) and Special Funds of Innovative Research Team on Plant Evolutionary Ecology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, No.1139, Municipal Government Avenue, Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, People’s Republic of China

    R. Jiang, H.-Y. Zhu, F.-Q. Fu & J. Yao

  2. Environmental Engineering Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Price George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada

    R. Jiang, H.-Y. Zhu, J.-B. Li & X.-X. Liang

  3. College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, 318000, People’s Republic of China

    R.-Q. Guo

  4. Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, People’s Republic of China

    G.-M. Zeng

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  1. R. Jiang
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  2. H.-Y. Zhu
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  3. J.-B. Li
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  4. F.-Q. Fu
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  6. X.-X. Liang
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  7. R.-Q. Guo
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  8. G.-M. Zeng
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Correspondence to H.-Y. Zhu or G.-M. Zeng.

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Jiang, R., Zhu, HY., Li, JB. et al. Efficient solar photocatalyst based on Ag3PO4/graphene nanosheets composite for photocatalytic decolorization of dye pollutants. J IRAN CHEM SOC 13, 1167–1174 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-016-0831-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-016-0831-0

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