The Multiple Promotion Effects of Ammonium Phosphate-Modified AgPO on Photocatalytic Performance.

Phosphate ( ) modification of semiconductor photocatalysts such as TiO, CN, BiVO, and etc. has been shown positive effect on the enhancement of photocatalytic performance. In the present study, we demonstrate a novel one-pot surface modification route on AgPO photocatalyst by ammonium phosphate [(NH)PO], which combines modification with ammonium ( ) etching to show multiple effects on the structural variation of AgPO samples. The modified AgPO photocatalysts exhibit much higher photocatalytic performance than bare AgPO for the degradation of organic dye solutions under visible light irradiation. It is indicated that the etching favors the surface transition from AgPO to metallic Ag nanoparticles, resulting in the fast capture of photogenerated electrons and the followed generation of radicals. The strongly adsorbed on the AgPO surfaces can further provide more negative electrostatic field, which improves the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs by inducing the holes to directly flow to the surface and then enhances the formation of reactive OH radicals. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performance of the modified AgPO photocatalysts can be optimized by monitoring the concentration of (NH)PO that is 1 mM.