Z-scheme BiVO/Ag/AgS composites with enhanced photocatalytic efficiency under visible light.

The Z-scheme BiVO/Ag/AgS photocatalyst was fabricated a two-step route. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, HRTEM, XPS and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results of PL and photocurrent response tests demonstrate that the ternary BiVO/Ag/AgS composites had a high separation and migration efficiency of photoexcited carriers. As a result, the ternary photocatalyst exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity for decomposing Rhodamine B (RhB) under LED light (420 nm) irradiation. The results of trapping experiments demonstrate both h and ˙OH play crucial roles in decomposing RhB molecules. Additionally, the energy band structures and density of states (DOS) of BiVO and AgS were investigated the density functional theory (DFT) method. Finally, a Z-scheme electron migration mechanism of BiVO → Ag → AgS was proposed based on the experimental and calculated results.