title: Fabrication of Z-scheme plasmonic photocatalyst Ag@AgBr/g-C₃N₄ with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity.
abstract: A series of Ag@AgBr grafted graphitic carbon nitride (Ag@AgBr/g-C3N4) plasmonic photocatalysts are fabricated through photoreducing AgBr/g-C3N4 hybrids prepared by deposition-precipitation method. The phase and chemical structures, electronic and optical properties as well as morphologies of Ag@AgBr/g-C3N4 heterostructures are well-characterized. Subsequently, the photocatalytic activity of Ag@AgBr/g-C3N4 is evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and rhodamin B (RB) under visible-light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag@AgBr/g-C3N4 compared with g-C3N4 and Ag@AgBr is obtained and explained in terms of the efficient visible-light utilization efficiency as well as the construction of Z-scheme, which keeps photogenerated electrons and holes with high reduction and oxidation capability, evidenced by photoelectrochemical tests and free radical and hole scavenging experiments. Based on the intermediates identified in the reaction system, the photocatalytic degradation pathway of MO is put forward.
authors.affiliation: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, PR China.
authors.forename: Wan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, PR China.
authors.forename: Yingna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China.
authors.forename: Yahui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, PR China. Electronic address: yuanx@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, PR China. Electronic address: guoyh@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yihang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001965:Bromides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002384:Catalysis; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D001965:Bromides; D004396:Coloring Agents; D009570:Nitriles; D012235:Rhodamines; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012834:Silver; C011206:cyanogen; C100258:methyl orange; C029773:rhodamine B
keywords: Ag@AgBr; Graphitic carbon nitride; Plasmonic photocatalysis; Z-scheme