Ag3PO4/g-C3N4/Zn3(PO4)2 catalyst with ternary heterostructure and Z-scheme/type II dual pathway mechanism for high photocatalytic performance

A novel Ag(3)PO4/g-C3N4/Zn-3(PO4)(2) photocatalyst with ternary heterostructure and Z-scheme/type II dual pathway mechanism was synthesized. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy data showed that Ag3PO4, Zn-3(PO4)(2), and g-C3N4 were in close contact, leading to the formation of the ternary heterojunction. Under simulated solar light irradiation, the Ag3PO4/g-C3N4/Zn-3(PO4)(2) photocatalyst efficiently degraded rhodamine B (RhB) and displayed much higher photocatalytic activity than pure Ag3PO4, g-C3N4, Zn-3(PO4)(2), and Ag3PO4/Zn-3(PO4)(2) composite, exhibiting a RhB photodegradation efficiency of similar to 91.2 % within 60 min. The quenching effects of different scavengers and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments demonstrated that reactive h(+) and center dot O-2(-) species played major roles in the photocatalytic reaction. It was elucidated that excellent photocatalytic activity could be ascribed to the Z-scheme/type II dual carrier transfer pathways. Therefore, the formation of a ternary heterostructure system is an efficient method for separating charge carriers and retaining their redox capabilities.