Enhanced photocatalytic performance of 3d flower-like Ag@Ag2CO3/Bi2O2CO3 all-solid-state Z-scheme heterojunction

Heterojunction construction is an enduring topic for semiconductor photocatalytic performance enhancement. In this study, a novel Ag@Ag2CO3/Bi2O2CO3 heterojunction photocatalyst was prepared by precipitation method, in which Ag2CO3 nanorods was coated by Ag nanoparticles and 3D flower-like Bi2O2CO3. The Ag@Ag2CO3/Bi2O2CO3 all-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalytic system boosted the photocatalytic degradation of the sodium isobutyl xanthate and o-cresol, as compared to bare Bi2O2CO3 and Ag@Ag2CO3. Benefitting from the morphology modulation, the significant increase in photocatalytic activity of Ag@Ag2CO3/Bi2O2CO3 was achieved owing to the enhanced light-harvesting and increased specific surface area. The in-situ formed Ag0 nanoparticles simultaneously forms Z-scheme all-solid-state heterojunctions (Ag2CO3/Bi2O2CO3) and accelerates the photogenerated charge separation with surface plasmon resonance effect. A possible mechanism of 3D Ag@Ag2CO3/Bi2O2CO3 Z-scheme system with a strengthened photocatalytic performance was proposed based on the characterization results and trapping experiments.