Synthesis and visible-light photocatalytic degradation of Ag(3)PO(4)/AgBr/hydroxyapatite ternary nanocomposites prepared from oyster shells

In this paper, a new type of Ag(3)PO(4)/AgBr/hydroxyapatite (HAP) composite was successfully prepared from oyster shells and silver nitrate by a hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron spin resonance and other precision instruments, and their catalytic activity was characterized by visible light degradation of methylene blue (MB). The experimental results show that the Ag(3)PO(4)/AgBr/HAP photocatalyst has a nanoscale rod-like structure and excellent photodegradation performance. Although the content of Ag(3)PO(4) or AgBr had a significant effect on the reaction activity, the effects did not all positively correlate, and only the appropriate ratio could produce an improved catalytic effect. The catalytic performance of the 1:1-Ag(3)PO(4)/AgBr/HAP composite was the best: complete degradation of MB was achieved within 40 min, and the reaction rate was 15 times that of Ag(3)PO(4)/AgBr. In the process of photocatalytic degradation, ˙O(2−) and h(+) are the main active species involved in the reaction, and the synergistic catalysis of Ag(3)PO(4), AgBr and HAP promotes the degradation rate.