High-Performance Room-Light-Driven β-AgVO3/mpg-C3N4 Core/Shell Photocatalyst Prepared by Mechanochemical Method

A new highly efficient, visible light active, silver vanadate/polymeric carbonitride “core/shell” photocatalyst was prepared mechano-chemically by grinding mixtures of β-silver vanadate and mesoporous graphitic carbonitride. Besides the core/shell photocatalyst, vanadate/mesoporous polymeric composites supported mpg-C3N4@β-silver vanadates were prepared. The materials characterized transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen ad- de-sorption, diffuse reflectance UV-Vis measurement (DRS), infrared spectroscopy, Raman microscopy, time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. photocatalytic performance investigated in degradation organics using pharmaceutical ibuprofen 4-(isobutyl phenyl) propionic acid sodium salt as model compounds under batch conditions. Reaction intermediates studied electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS). Additionally, degree mineralization determined total organic carbon TOC measurements. has shown superior activity compared to other or photocatalysts well single mpg-C3N4. Scavenger experiments showed that valence band holes anionic superoxide radicals are main active species process. confirmed compound, which line with ESI-TOF-MS experiments. Time-resolved measurements indicated charges generated migrate via diffusive hopping exhibit increased mobility case composite.