Construction of a CQDs/Ag₃PO₄/BiPO₄ Heterostructure Photocatalyst with Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B under Simulated Solar Irradiation

• Main Authors: Huajing Gao, Chengxiang Zheng, Hua Yang, Xiaowei Niu, Shifa Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-08-01
• Series: Micromachines
• Subjects: carbon quantum dots; CQDs/Ag₃PO₄/BiPO₄; photodegradation activity; synergistic effect; photocatalytic mechanism
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/9/557
• ISSN: 2072-666X

A carbon quantum dot (CQDs)/Ag₃PO₄/BiPO₄ heterostructure photocatalyst was constructed by a simple hydrothermal synthesis method. The as-prepared CQDs/Ag₃PO₄/BiPO₄ photocatalyst has been characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet−visible spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical measurements. It is demonstrated that the CQDs/Ag₃PO₄/BiPO₄ composite is constructed by assembling Ag₃PO₄ fine particles and CQDs on the surface of rice-like BiPO₄ granules. The CQDs/Ag₃PO₄/BiPO₄ heterostructure photocatalyst exhibits a higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of the rhodamine B dye than that of Ag₃PO₄, BiPO₄, and Ag₃PO₄/BiPO₄. The synergistic effects of light absorption capacity, band edge position, separation, and utilization efficiency of photogenerated carriers play the key role for the enhanced photodegradation of the rhodamine B dye.