Abstract
Novel and efficient Z-scheme Ag
2
CO
3
/Ag/WO
3
with excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance was fabricated using a facile deposition and photochemical reduction process. Surface, morphological, and structural properties of the resulting materials were characterized using N
2
sorption–desorption and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurements, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performances of the Ag
2
CO
3
/Ag/WO
3
composites were evaluated by the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under visible light irradiation. The results demonstrate that the novel Z-scheme Ag
2
CO
3
/Ag/WO
3
composites exhibit higher photocatalytic activity than pure Ag
2
CO
3
rods and WO
3
nanoparticles. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag
2
CO
3
/Ag/WO
3
can be ascribed to the extended absorption in the visible light region caused by a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, effective separation of photogenerated charges, and the formation of a Z-scheme system. In addition, the photocatalyst exhibits high stability and reusability. This work could offer a new insight into the design and fabrication of advanced materials with Z-scheme structures for photocatalytic applications for organic pollutants removal from wastewater.