The triple-component Ag3PO4-CoFe2O4-GO synthesis and visible light photocatalytic performance

This paper introduces a novel triple-component silver phosphate-cobalt ferrite-graphene oxide (Ag 3 PO 4 -CoFe 2 O 4 -GO) photocatalyst, illustrates its synthetic principle of adjusting the pH value, elaborates on its dual-channel reaction mechanism and reveals its advantages. Morphology and elementary analyses revealed that the magnetic CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) and the GO were uniformly adorned on the Ag 3 PO 4 particles’ surface, forming a spherical structure. Because of this particular structure, not only could the Ag 3 PO 4 -CoFe 2 O 4 -GO composite be thoroughly removed with magnet field from treated water, but the photocatalytic activity and stability had been greatly improved to pure Ag 3 PO 4 . The effects of different samples were also evaluated, in terms of the efficiencies in inactivation and degradation. The reactive oxygen species (ROSs) yield measurements and photoluminescence spectra analysis indicated that O 2 adsorption could be promoted by the CoFe 2 O 4 and the GO. Upon visible light irradiation, a part of motivated electrons of the Ag 3 PO 4 were consumed by the CoFe 2 O 4 , and others were transferred to the GO. The effective electron-hole separation is due to the dual transfer channel existing in the Ag 3 PO 4 -CoFe 2 O 4 -GO composite. Hence, the dual transfer channel is the major reason for enhancing photocatalytic activity and stability.