Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Visible-light responsive plasmonic Ag2O/Ag/g-C3N4 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Visible-light responsive plasmonic Ag2O/Ag/g-C3N4 nanosheets (NS) were successfully prepared by a simple and green photodeposition method. The obtained composites were characterized by XRD, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis, and the photoluminescence (PL) results indicated that the Ag2O/Ag/g-C3N4 NS composites showed better photoabsorption performance than g-C3N4 due to the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities, which was ∼3.8 and ∼3.0 times higher than those of bulk g-C3N4 and pure g-C3N4 NS, respectively. Moreover, the as-prepared composites showed a high structural stability in the photodegradation of Rhodamine B. A possible photocatalytic and charge separation mechanism was suggested based on the PL spectra and the active species trapping experiment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

FIG. 1
FIG. 2
FIG. 3
FIG. 4
FIG. 5
FIG. 6
FIG. 7
FIG. 8
FIG. 9
FIG. 10
FIG. 11
FIG. 12
FIG. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. Liu, Y. Liu, N. Liu, Y. Han, X. Zhang, H. Huang, Y. Lifshitz, S.T. Lee, J. Zhong, and Z. Kang: Metal-free efficient photocatalyst for stable visible water splitting via a two-electron pathway. Science 347(6225), 970 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. X. Chen, S. Shen, L. Guo, and S.S. Mao: Semiconductor-based photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Chem. Rev. 110(11), 6503 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. X. Chen, C. Li, M. Gratzel, R. Kostecki, and S.S. Mao: Nanomaterials for renewable energy production and storage. Chem. Soc. Rev. 41(23), 7909 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Y. Zhang, T. Xia, P. Wallenmeyer, C.X. Harris, A.A. Peterson, G.A. Corsiglia, J. Murowchick, and X. Chen: Photocatalytic hydrogen generation from pure water using silicon carbide nanoparticles. Energy Technol. 2(2), 183 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. X. Li, J. Yu, J. Low, Y. Fang, J. Xiao, and X. Chen: Engineering heterogeneous semiconductors for solar water splitting. J. Mater. Chem. A 3(6), 2485 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. S. Zhang, J. Li, X. Wang, Y. Huang, M. Zeng, and J. Xu: In situ ion exchange synthesis of strongly coupled Ag@AgCl/g-C3N4 porous nanosheets as plasmonic photocatalyst for highly efficient visible-light photocatalysis. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 6(24), 22116 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. A.K. Geim and I.V. Grigorieva: Van der Waals heterostructures. Nature 499(7459), 419 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. C.N.R. Rao, H.S.S. Ramakrishna Matte, and U. Maitra: Graphene analogues of inorganic layered materials. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 52(50), 13162 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Y. Sun, S. Gao, F. Lei, C. Xiao, and Y. Xie: Ultrathin two-dimensional inorganic materials: New opportunities for solid state nanochemistry. Acc. Chem. Res. 48(1), 3 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. H. Wang, H. Yuan, S. Sae Hong, Y. Li, and Y. Cui: Physical and chemical tuning of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides. Chem. Soc. Rev. 44(9), 2664 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Y. Sun, S. Gao, F. Lei, and Y. Xie: Atomically-thin two-dimensional sheets for understanding active sites in catalysis. Chem. Soc. Rev. 44(3), 623 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. P. Niu, L. Zhang, G. Liu, and H-M. Cheng: Graphene-like carbon nitride nanosheets for improved photocatalytic activities. Adv. Funct. Mater. 22(22), 4763 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Y. Ke, H. Guo, D. Wang, J. Chen, and W. Weng: ZrO2/g-C3N4 with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. J. Mater. Res. 29(20), 2473 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. J. Wen, X. Li, H. Li, S. Ma, K. He, Y. Xu, Y. Fang, W. Liu, and Q. Gao: Enhanced visible-light H2 evolution of g-C3N4 photocatalysts via the synergetic effect of amorphous NiS and cheap metal-free carbon black nanoparticles as co-catalysts. Appl. Surf. Sci. 358, 204 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. J. Ding, Q. Liu, Z. Zhang, X. Liu, J. Zhao, S. Cheng, B. Zong, and W.L. Dai: Carbon nitride nanosheets decorated with WO3 nanorods: Ultrasonic-assisted facile synthesis and catalytic application in the green manufacture of dialdehydes. Appl. Catal., B 165, 511 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. J. Chen, S. Shen, P. Guo, M. Wang, J. Su, D. Zhao, and L. Guo: Plasmonic Ag@SiO2 core/shell structure modified g-C3N4 with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity. J. Mater. Res. 29(01), 64 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. G. Bi, J. Wen, X. Li, W. Liu, J. Xie, Y. Fang, and W. Zhang: Efficient visible-light photocatalytic H2 evolution over metal-free g-C3N4 co-modified with robust acetylene black and Ni(OH)2 as dual co-catalysts. RSC Adv. 6(37), 31497 (2016).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. X. Zhang, X. Xie, H. Wang, J. Zhang, B. Pan, and Y. Xie: Enhanced photoresponsive ultrathin graphitic-phase C3N4 nanosheets for bioimaging. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135(1), 18 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. A. Du, S. Sanvito, Z. Li, D. Wang, Y. Jiao, T. Liao, Q. Sun, Y.H. Ng, Z. Zhu, R. Amal, and S.C. Smith: Hybrid graphene and graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite: Gap opening, electron–hole puddle, interfacial charge transfer, and enhanced visible light response. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134(9), 4393 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. X. Zhou, C. Hu, X. Hu, T. Peng, and J. Qu: Plasmon-Assisted degradation of toxic pollutants with Ag–AgBr/Al2O3 under visible-light irradiation. J. Phys. Chem. C 114(6), 2746 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. C. Wu: Facile room temperature synthesis of Ag@AgBr core–shell microspheres with high visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance. J. Mater. Res. 30(05), 677 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. H. Lin, Y. Zhao, Y. Wang, J. Cao, and S. Chen: Controllable in situ synthesis of Ag/BiOI and Ag/AgI/BiOI composites with adjustable visible light photocatalytic performances. Mater. Lett. 132, 141 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. K. Tian, W.J. Liu, and H. Jiang: Comparative investigation on photoreactivity and mechanism of biogenic and chemosythetic Ag/C3N4 composites under visible light irradiation. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 3(2), 269 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. L. Dong, Y. He, T. Li, J. Cai, W. Hu, S. Wang, H. Lin, M. Luo, X. Yi, L. Zhao, W. Weng, and H. Wan: A comparative study on the photocatalytic activities of two visible-light plasmonic photocatalysts: AgCl–SmVO4 and AgI–SmVO4 composites. Appl. Catal., A 472, 143 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Y. He, L. Zhang, B. Teng, and M. Fan: New application of Z-scheme Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 composite in converting CO2 to fuel. Environ. Sci. Technol. 49(1), 649 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. T. Li, Y. He, H. Lin, J. Cai, L. Dong, X. Wang, M. Luo, L. Zhao, X. Yi, and W. Weng: Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of visible-light plasmonic photocatalyst AgBr–SmVO4. Appl. Catal., B 138–139, 95 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. L. Ge, C. Han, J. Liu, and Y. Li: Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of novel polymeric g-C3N4 loaded with Ag nanoparticles. Appl. Catal., A 409–410, 215 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. M.A. El-Sayed: Some interesting properties of metals confined in time and nanometer space of different shapes. Acc. Chem. Res. 34(4), 257 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. M. Xu, L. Han, and S. Dong: Facile fabrication of highly efficient g-C3N4/Ag2O heterostructured photocatalysts with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 5(23), 12533 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. M. Wu, J.M. Yan, M. Zhao, and Q. Jiang: Facile synthesis of an Ag2O–ZnO nanohybrid and its high photocatalytic activity. ChemPlusChem 77(10), 931 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. H. Yu, R. Liu, X. Wang, P. Wang, and J. Yu: Enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles by Ag2O cocatalyst. Appl. Catal., B 111–112, 326 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Q. Lin, L. Li, S. Liang, M. Liu, J. Bi, and L. Wu: Efficient synthesis of monolayer carbon nitride 2D nanosheet with tunable concentration and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activities. Appl. Catal., B 163, 135 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. X. Wang, L. Zhang, H. Lin, Q. Nong, Y. Wu, T. Wu, and Y. He: Synthesis and characterization of a ZrO2/g-C3N4 composite with enhanced visible-light photoactivity for rhodamine degradation. RSC Adv. 4(75), 40029 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. K. Sayama and H. Arakawa: Photocatalytic decomposition of water and photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide over zirconia catalyst. J. Phys. Chem. 97(3), 531 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Y. Yang, Y. Guo, F. Liu, X. Yuan, Y. Guo, S. Zhang, W. Guo, and M. Huo: Preparation and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of silver deposited graphitic carbon nitride plasmonic photocatalyst. Appl. Catal., B 142–143, 828 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. S.C. Yan, Z.S. Li, and Z.G. Zou: Photodegradation performance of g-C3N4 fabricated by directly heating melamine. Langmuir 25(17), 10397 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. J. Liu, T. Zhang, Z. Wang, G. Dawson, and W. Chen: Simple pyrolysis of urea into graphitic carbon nitride with recyclable adsorption and photocatalytic activity. J. Mater. Chem. 21(38), 14398 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. P. Niu, G. Liu, and H-M. Cheng: Nitrogen vacancy-promoted photocatalytic activity of graphitic carbon nitride. J. Phys. Chem. C 116(20), 11013 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. M.J. Bojdys, J.O. Müller, M. Antonietti, and A. Thomas: Ionothermal synthesis of crystalline, condensed, graphitic carbon nitride. Chem. Eur. J. 14(27), 8177 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Z. Zhang, J. Huang, M. Zhang, Q. Yuan, and B. Dong: Ultrathin hexagonal SnS2 nanosheets coupled with g-C3N4 nanosheets as 2D/2D heterojunction photocatalysts toward high photocatalytic activity. Appl. Catal., B 163, 298 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Y. Wang, J. Liu, Y. Wang, C. Fan, and G. Ding: Regeneration of novel visible-light-driven Ag/Ag3PO4@C3N4 hybrid materials and their high photocatalytic stability. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 25, 330 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. M. Groenewolt and M. Antonietti: Synthesis of g-C3N4 nanoparticles in mesoporous silica host matrices. Adv. Mater. 17(14), 1789 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Z. He, Y. Shi, C. Gao, L. Wen, J. Chen, and S. Song: BiOCl/BiVO4 p–n heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation. J. Phys. Chem. C 118(1), 389 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. J. Ren, W. Wang, S. Sun, L. Zhang, and J. Chang: Enhanced photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 loaded with Ag nanoparticles under visible light irradiation. Appl. Catal., B 92(1–2), 50 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. X. Lü, J. Shen, Z. Wu, J. Wang, and J. Xie: Deposition of Ag nanoparticles on g-C3N4 nanosheet by N, N-dimethylformamide: Soft synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity. J. Mater. Res. 29(18), 2170 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Z. Li, J. Wang, K. Zhu, F. Ma, and A. Meng: Ag/g-C3N4 composite nanosheets: Synthesis and enhanced visible photocatalytic activities. Mater. Lett. 145, 167 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Y. Xu and M.A.A. Schoonen: The absolute energy positions of conduction and valence bands of selected semiconducting minerals. Am. Mineral. 85(3–4), 543 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was supported by grants from the Nature Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (LY16B030002).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Reactive Chemistry on Solid Surfaces, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China

    Shurong Fu, Yiming He, Qi Wu, Ying Wu & Tinghua Wu

Authors
  1. Shurong Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yiming He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qi Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ying Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tinghua Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ying Wu or Tinghua Wu.

Supplementary Material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fu, S., He, Y., Wu, Q. et al. Visible-light responsive plasmonic Ag2O/Ag/g-C3N4 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B. Journal of Materials Research 31, 2252–2260 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2016.234

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2016.234

Search

Navigation