Enhanced solar-driven photocatalytic performance of a ternary composite of SnO2 quantum dots//AgVO3 nanoribbons//g-C3N4 nanosheets (0D/1D/2D) structures for hydrogen production and dye degradation.

Abstract

Herein, we report the synthesis of between SnO2 QDs /AgVO3 nanoribbons/g-C3N4 nanosheets of ternary photocatalytic systems for the production of H2 through light irradiation. The SnO2/AgVO3/g-C3N4 photocatalyst was successfully produced by using the hydrothermal process. The structural characterizations of the samples revealed the successful formation of ternary heterostructures where SnO2, AgVO3 and g-C3N4 (quantum dots/nanoribbons/nanosheets) 0D/1D/2D structures make a good interface with each other. The fabricated heterostructures of AgVO3/g-C3N4 and SnO2/AgVO3/g-C3N4 photocatalytic structures performed enriched photocatalytic performance for H2 production over that of the pristine g-C3N4, AgVO3 and SnO2 photocatalysts. The AgVO3/g-C3N4 and SnO2 /AgVO3/g-C3N4 of photocatalysts were found to produce H2 of around 17,000 μmol g-1 and 77,000 μmol g-1, respectively, which is much 4.5 times greater than that of AgVO3/g-C3N4 photocatalyst. Moreover, the photodegradation behaviours of prepared catalysts were studied with the dye (rhodamine B, RhB) under light irradiation. The ternary composite SnO2/AgVO3/g-C3N4 performed photodegradation of RhB in 50 min. The higher photocatalytic activity for the ternary photocatalysts is predominantly due to the effective charge separation at the perfect interface formation amid SnO2 and AgVO3/g-C3N4.