The fabrication of a novel Ag3VO4/WO3 heterojunction with enhanced visible light efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of TC

Abstract

The construction of efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. In this study, a novel Ag₃VO₄/WO₃ heterojunction photocatalyst has been successfully prepared via a hydrothermal process and a facile precipitation reaction. Under visible light irradiation, the hybrid materials could significantly enhance photocatalytic activity for the degradation of tetracycline (TC) in comparison with single Ag₃VO₄ and WO₃. Within 30 min, 71.2% TC could be photodegraded by the optimum sample (10% A/W), which was about 3.1 times and 4.6 times higher than that of the individual Ag₃VO₄ and WO₃, respectively. Based on the active species trapping experiments and ESR, the photocatalytic oxidation mechanism of the Ag₃VO₄/WO₃ composite was also discussed. It can be assumed that the enhancement of the photocatalytic activity was attributed to the heterojunction which could widely accelerate the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. In general, WO₃ hybridized with Ag₃VO₄ will also efficiently address the problem of low photocatalytic activity.