title: New application of Z-scheme Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 composite in converting CO2 to fuel.
abstract: This research was designed for the first time to investigate the activities of photocatalytic composite, Ag3PO4/g-C3N4, in converting CO2 to fuels under simulated sunlight irradiation. The composite was synthesized using a simple in situ deposition method and characterized by various techniques including Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and an electrochemical method. Thorough investigation indicated that the composite consisted of Ag3PO4, Ag, and g-C3N4. The introduction of Ag3PO4 on g-C3N4 promoted its light absorption performance. However, more significant was the formation of heterojunction structure between Ag3PO4 and g-C3N4, which efficiently promoted the separation of electron-hole pairs by a Z-scheme mechanism and ultimately enhanced the photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance of the Ag3PO4/g-C3N4. The optimal Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 photocatalyst showed a CO2 conversion rate of 57.5 μmol · h(-1) · gcat(-1), which was 6.1 and 10.4 times higher than those of g-C3N4 and P25, respectively, under simulated sunlight irradiation. The work found a new application of the photocatalyst, Ag3PO4/g-C3N4, in simultaneous environmental protection and energy production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, University of Wyoming , Laramie, Wyoming 82071, United States.
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Botao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Maohong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D055668:Photochemical Processes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D059205:Renewable Energy; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013472:Sunlight; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D009570:Nitriles; D010710:Phosphates; D018030:Silver Compounds; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C011206:cyanogen; D006108:Graphite; C039072:silver phosphate