Ag3PO4 modified phosphorus and sulphur co-doped graphitic carbon nitride as a direct Z-scheme photocatalyst for 2, 4-dimethyl phenol degradation

Very recently, hybrid photocatalysts are gaining importance due to their unique and enhanced photocatalytic activity. In precedent study, we have successfully prepared Ag3PO4 (AP) and P and S co-doped g-C3N4 (PSGCN) based AP/PSGCN photocatalyst via facile deposition-precipitation method. The P and S co-doped g-C3N4 was prepared via thermal poly-condensation using hexachlorotriphosphazene (HCCP) and thiourea as precursors. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X- ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS). The thickness of AP/PSGCN was less than 9.0 nm. The zeta potential and Tyndall effect experiments validated the formation of well dispersed suspension of AP/PSGCN in water. The co-doping resulted in lowering of optical band gap of g-C3N4. The Tyndall effect experiments ascertained the formation of well dispersed suspension of AP/PSGCN. The photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance analysis confirmed reduction in recombination of photogenerated electron and hole pairs. The photodegradation of 2,4-dimethyl phenol (DMP) followed pseudo first order kinetics. The enhanced photocatalysis was due to direct Z-scheme mechanism. Hydroxyl and superoxide radicals were the two main reactive species during DMP degradation. The COD, HPLC and LC–MS investigations ascertained mineralization of DMP. AP/PSGCN displayed high stability and recycle efficiency significant for ten catalytic cycles.