Synthesis and Visible Light Photocatalytic Performance of Ag3PO4/MoS2 Nanosheets Composite Photocatalyst

The Ag3PO4/MoS2 nanosheets composite photocatalyst was successfully prepared via a mechanical milling method. The structure of composite photocatalyst was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The results indicate that Ag3PO4 nanoparticles are successfully coupled into the surface of MoS2 nanosheets. The photocatalytic activity of composite photocatalyst was evaluated by the degradation of organic methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The obtained Ag3PO4/1%MoS2 nanosheets composite photocatalyst exhibite the optimal photocatalytic performance, which can degrade almost all MB under visible-light irradiation within 30 min. The kinetic constant of MB degradation with Ag3PO4/1%MoS2 nanosheets composite photocatalyst is about 2 times as high as that of the pure Ag3PO4. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is mainly attributed to the efficient separation and transport of photo-induced electron-hole pairs in the heterojunction structure. The recycling experiment shows that the photocatalytic activity of Ag3PO4/1% MoS2 nanosheets composite photocatalyst is maintained at about 84% after 5 cycles, while the photocatalytic activity of the pure Ag3PO4 decreases to 35%. The high photocatalytic stability is due to the successful inhibition of the photo-corrosion of Ag3PO4 by transferring the photo-generated electrons of Ag3PO4 to MoS2 nanosheets.