Ag(3)PO(4) nanocrystals and g-C(3)N(4) quantum dots decorated Ag(2)WO(4) nanorods: ternary nanoheterostructures for photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants in water

Visible-light-driven Ag(3)PO(4)/graphite-like carbon nitride/Ag(2)WO(4) photocatalysts with different weight fractions of Ag(3)PO(4) were synthesized. Ag(2)WO(4) nanorods with a scale of 500 nm to 3 μm were prepared by using a hydrothermal reaction. Via a facile deposition–precipitation technique, graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C(3)N(4)) quantum dots and Ag(3)PO(4) nanocrystals were then deposited onto the surface of Ag(2)WO(4) nanorods sequentially. Under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), the Ag(3)PO(4)/g-C(3)N(4)/Ag(2)WO(4) nanorods degraded Rh B efficiently and displayed much higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure Ag(2)WO(4) and the g-C(3)N(4)/Ag(2)WO(4) composite, and the Ag(3)PO(4)/g-C(3)N(4)/Ag(2)WO(4) hybrid photocatalyst with 30 wt% of Ag(3)PO(4) exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. The quenching effects of different scavengers demonstrated that reactive h(+) and ·O(2−) played the major roles in Rh B degradation. It was elucidated that the excellent photocatalytic activity of Ag(3)PO(4)/g-C(3)N(4)/Ag(2)WO(4) for the degradation of Rh B under visible light (λ > 420 nm) can be ascribed to the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes through the Ag(3)PO(4)/g-C(3)N(4)/Ag(2)WO(4) heterostructure.