Abstract
Highly crystalline Ag3PO4 particles were synthesized using a simple ion exchange method and cast in situ on nanocellulose (NC) sheets. The as-synthesized bulk powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emissions scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and UV–visible photospectroscopy. XRD studies confirmed formation of highly oriented Ag3PO4. The size of the synthesized particles ranged between 70 and 280 nm with a statistical mean value of 140 nm. Silver quantum dots sparingly dispersed in the composite were also observed. Visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance of the obtained Ag3PO4/NC composite was investigated by monitoring the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) as typical organic dye molecules both in deionised and raw wastewater matrix. The results demonstrate that Ag3PO4/NC has high photocatalytic degradation of MB and MO under visible light and also in complex matrix. The photocatalytic mechanism of the Ag3PO4/NC composite material was proposed and discussed.
Published Version
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