In situ synthesis of Ag3PO4/C3N5 Z-scheme heterojunctions with enhanced visible-light-responsive photocatalytic performance for antibiotics removal

Environmental pollution caused by antibiotics-containing wastewater has attracted increasing attention. Considering the superior photocatalytic performance and the issue of photo-corrosion over silver-based photocatalysts, it is desirable to construct silver-based photocatalysts with high photostability. Herein, a serious of Ag 3 PO 4 /C 3 N 5 nanocomposites with Z -scheme band alignment were rationally designed and fabricated for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) removal. A variety of characterizations were employed to systematically study the phase structure, morphology and microstructure, optical properties, surface chemical states, and photocatalytic performance of the as-fabricated photocatalysts. The as-prepared Ag 3 PO 4 /C 3 N 5 nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity and photochemical stability than a single component toward TCH removal, meanwhile, the photocatalytic performance was not increased with the increasing amount of Ag 3 PO 4 . The possible photocatalytic mechanism ( Z -scheme mechanism) was investigated and verified. The Z -scheme heterojunctions formed between Ag 3 PO 4 and C 3 N 5 is the main reason for the enhanced photocatalytic activities. • Ag 3 PO 4 /C 3 N 5 nanocomposites were successfully fabricated for the first time. • The CNAP3 exhibited superior photocatalytic performance and photostability. • The possible Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was proposed and verified.