A study on preparation of BiPO_4/Ag_3PO_4 novel visible light responsible photocatalysts and their photocatalytic performance

A series of BiPO4/Ag3PO4 composite photocatalysts with different doping proportion of BiPO4 and Ag3PO4 were synthesized using AgNO3 Bi(NO3)3·5H2O and NaH2PO4 as raw materials by a co-precipitation method at different calcination temperature.The properties of the photocatalysts,including light-absorption band,morphology and photoluminescence,etc were characterized by UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra,scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence spectrum.The results showed that these composite photocatalysts absorb visible light with the wavelength of 400~500 nm,and hence are novel visible light responsive photocatalysts.The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts was tested in degradation of Rhodamine B.With the increase of doping ratio,the photocatalytic activity decreases.With the enhancement of calcination temperature,the photocatalytic activity firstly increases,and then decreases.The photocatalyst with the BiPO4/Ag3PO4 molar percent of 5% that was obtained by calcining at 350 ℃ showed the optimal activity,which is the complete degradation of 200 mL rhodamine B solution with a concentration of 12 mg/L within 40 minutes.