Surface decoration of microdisk-like g-C3N4/diatomite with Ag/AgCl nanoparticles for application in Cr(VI) reduction

Abstract

First, microdisk-like g-C3N4/diatomite composites (g-C3N4/DE) were prepared by a facile calcination process using diatomite as template. After that, the obtained g-C3N4/DE composite was decorated with uniform dispersed Ag/AgCl nanoparticles (NPs) via a mild photoreduction process. The microdisk-like g-C3N4/DE can provide numerous supporting sites for the anchoring of uniform dispersed Ag/AgCl NPs, which inhibits the agglomeration of Ag/AgCl NPs effectively. Introducing Ag/AgCl NPs can enhance the visible light response capability due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag NPs. Further, the complex interface formed between g-C3N4/DE and Ag/AgCl can accelerate the transfer and separation of photoelectron. The g-C3N4/DE/Ag/AgCl (GCDAA), therefore, displays outstanding photocatalytic activity for Cr6+ reduction, which is 8.9 and 46.3 times as high as that of g-C3N4 and g-C3N4/DE, respectively. This work gives a new perspective to design efficient and promising photocatalyst used in dealing with the heavy metal ion wastewater.