Core–shell structured AgBr incorporated g-C3N4 nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability

Abstract

Visible-light-driven core–shell structured AgBr/g-C3N4 heterogeneous photocatalyst have been synthesised by a sonication-assisted deposition-precipitation route at room temperature, and characterised by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption analysis. Subsequently, the photocatalytic activity of AgBr/g-C3N4 is evaluated by the degradation of typical Rhodamine B (RhB), methyl blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes under visible-light irradiation (>420 nm). The as-prepared AgBr/g-C3N4 core–shell photocatalyst show higher photocatalytic activity than the pure g-C3N4 and AgBr nanoparticles, which is ascribed to synergistic effects at the interface of AgBr and g-C3N4 . Moreover, superior stability was also observed by recycling experiments indicating that core–shell structured AgBr/g-C3N4 was highly desirable for the remediation of organic contaminated wastewaters. In addition, the possible photocatalytic mechanism of AgBr/g-C3N4 composite with enhanced heterogeneous photocatalytic activity is also proposed in detail.