Highly efficient tandem Z-scheme heterojunctions for visible light-based photocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Oxygen is important in maintaining a clean and reliable water environment. Designing heterojunction photocatalysts that can evolve oxygen from water splitting through an artificial Z-scheme pathway is a promising strategy for solving environmental problems. In this study, flower-like MoS2 nanostructures were fabricated via a simple hydrothermal process, and the electrostatic-based assembly ion-exchange method was used to construct a tandem Ag3PO4/MoS2/g-C3N4 (AMC) heterojunction. The as-synthesized photocatalyst exhibited significant improvements in harvesting visible light and transporting charge carriers. Moreover, the catalyst that was similar to the Z-scheme with intimate interface contact exhibited a strong oxygen evolution performance. The oxygen evolution activity of the optimal AMC-10 catalyst was approximately 11 times that of the pristine Ag3PO4. The results indicated that addition of a small amount of the flower-like MoS2 could significantly enhance the efficiency of oxygen evolution by the heterojunction. The findings in this study provide an alternative pathway for rationally designing efficient oxygen-evolving photocatalysts in order to improve the quality of water and rehabilitate the water environment.