A Novel Ag₃PO₄/Ag/Ag₂Mo₂O₇ Nanowire Photocatalyst: Ternary Nanocomposite for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Ag₃PO₄/Ag/Ag₂Mo₂O₇ composite photocatalyst was successfully prepared via an in situ precipitation method. The as-prepared Ag₃PO₄/Ag/Ag₂Mo₂O₇ nanocomposite included Ag₃PO₄ nanoparticles (NPs) as well as Ag NPs assembling on the surface of Ag₂Mo₂O₇ nanowires. Under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), the Ag₃PO₄/Ag/Ag₂Mo₂O₇ composite degraded rhodamine B (Rh B) efficiently and showed much higher photocatalytic efficiency than pure Ag₃PO₄, Ag₂Mo₂O₇, or Ag₃PO₄/Ag₂Mo₂O₇. It was elucidated that the excellent photocatalytic performance of Ag₃PO₄/Ag/Ag₂Mo₂O₇ for the degradation of Rh B under visible light could be ascribed to the high specific surface area, the extended absorption in the visible light region resulting from the Ag₃PO₄/Ag loading, and the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes through the ternary heterostrucure composed of Ag₃PO₄, Ag and Ag₂Mo₂O₇.