Abstract
A series of surface-dispersed Ag⁰ modified lamellar-graphite-phase carbon nitride nanosheets (Ag/LGCNs) are synthesized by a straightforward method to construct the noble metal/semiconductor heterojunction. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect results in an optimum degradation rate (Kapp) for rhodamine B ∼ 5.53 × 10⁻²∙min⁻¹ (9 times higher than that of pure LGCNs), and the sample exhibited outstanding stability. The experiments with sacrificial reagents showed that the h⁺ and ∙O₂⁻ are primary active photocatalytic species in the present samples. The optical and photo-electro-chemical studies of the samples, confirm enhanced photo-responsiveness and photogenerated carriers' separation and transport with an appropriate amount of Ag⁰. The corresponding mechanism is formulated using photocurrent analysis, impedance analysis, finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation and density functional theory (DFT). FDTD simulation evidenced an intense electromagnetic field at the Ag/LGCN’s interface under visible radiation attributable to the LSPR effect of Ag⁰ nanoparticles and an increased field intensity with the size of Ag⁰ nanoparticles. The DFT computations show that the difference in Fermi energy level and the work function contributes to an interfacial built-in electric field between Ag⁰ nanoparticles and LGCNs. Furthermore, the mechanism for reduced band gap and improved photocatalytic performance for Ag/LGCNs is explained by the energy band studies. Copyright © 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Society of Powder Technology Japan.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 103936 |
Journal | Advanced Powder Technology |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 06 Jan 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2023 |
Citation
Xie, L., Lu, D., Zeng, Y., Kondamareddy, K. K., Wu, Q., Li, L., . . . Ho, W. (2023). The mechanism insight for improved photocatalysis and interfacial charges transfer of surface-dispersed Ag⁰ modified layered graphite-phase carbon nitride nanosheets. Advanced Powder Technology, 34(2). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2022.103936Keywords
- Surface-dispersed Ag⁰ Nanoparticles
- LGCNs
- Surface plasmon resonance effect
- Photocatalysis
- Finite-difference time-domain
- Density functional theory