Preparation of a novel Ag3PO4/Bi-MOF heterojunction photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants under visible light irradiation

Abstract In this study, a novel photocatalyst composed of Ag3PO4 and Bi-MOF was synthesized via chemical precipitation at room temperature. The morphology, chemical composition, and molecular structure of the composite materials were characterized using SEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and various other analytical techniques. Photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated by degrading tetracycline hydrochloride and rhodamine B. The composite materials exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to pure Bi-MOF and Ag3PO4, with APBM-1/1 performing the most effectively. The degradation rates of rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) were 99% and 86.9% within 50 min and 30 min of light exposure, respectively. The possible mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation of pollutants were proposed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and capture experiments. The construction of a type-II heterojunction interface between Ag3PO4 and Bi-MOF accelerated the efficiency of the interfacial charge separation, which resulted in excellent photocatalytic activity.