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Designing visible-light-driven photocatalyst of Ag3PO4/CeO2 for enhanced photocatalytic activity under low light irradiation

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Abstract

In this study the preparation and the evaluation of Ag3PO4/CeO2 composites as visible-light-driven photocatalyst were reported. The composites, with different Ag3PO4:CeO2 molar ratio, were prepared via chemical precipitation and their photocatalytic performance were investigated by photodegradation of methyl orange solution (MO) under low intensity (23 W) visible light irradiation. Characterization analyses showed that the Ag3PO4 particles were irregular spherical-shaped and were well-distributed on the surface of CeO2. The photocatalytic activity of the composite was higher than that of Ag3PO4 and CeO2. The composite with 1:2.5 molar ratio exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity with degradation rate of 0.338 min−1 and 92% degradation efficiency. Besides, the composite can be used up to eight cycles without any regeneration process. Through radical scavenger experiments, the photogenerated holes (h+) and the \( \cdot {\text{O}}_{2}^{ - }\) radical were the active species for degradation of MO.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from Ministry of Higher Education for the research grant (FRGS-GSP Grant-5524867) and post-doctoral fellowship scheme (Nur Syazwani Osman), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi MARA for the services and technical support to conduct the research works.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    O. N. Syazwani, Hayati Mukhair & Abdul Halim Abdullah

  2. Materials Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Technology, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Zul Adlan Mohd Hir & Abdul Halim Abdullah

  3. Centre for Nanomaterials Research, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

    Mohd Sufri Mastuli

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  1. O. N. Syazwani
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Correspondence to O. N. Syazwani or Abdul Halim Abdullah.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this publication, and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome. As corresponding author, I confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved for submission by all the named authors.

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Syazwani, O.N., Mohd Hir, Z.A., Mukhair, H. et al. Designing visible-light-driven photocatalyst of Ag3PO4/CeO2 for enhanced photocatalytic activity under low light irradiation. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30, 415–423 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-018-0306-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-018-0306-4

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