Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous WO 3 modified Ag 3 PO 4 with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance

A series of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous WO3 (3DOM WO3) hybridized Ag3PO4 photocatalysts with different 3DOM WO3 contents were prepared. The composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–visible absorption spectra (UV–vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. Under visible light irradiation, the as-prepared 3DOM WO3–Ag3PO4 composites showed enhanced photocatalytic performance for methylene blue (MB) degradation. The sample with 3DOM WO3–Ag3PO4 (4 wt%) exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. The enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation could be due to a synergistic effect between 3DOM WO3 and Ag3PO4. After the introduction of 3DOM WO3, the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs could be increased.