Fabrication of Ag/carbon nitride photocatalysts and their enhanced photocatalytic performance for tetracycline degradation

In this study, we synthesized graphic carbon nitride nanosheets (labeled as CNs) by solid-phase grinding strategy coupled calcination method and then prepared Ag nanoparticles (NPs) loaded CNs composites by photodeposition. The as-prepared Ag/CNs composites presented remarkably enhanced photocatalytic performance and the degradation rate of tetracycline (TC) by Ag/CNs (3 wt.%) composite is above two times higher than that by pristine CNs under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity originated from the close contact between Ag and CNs, and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Ag. Moreover, the results of radical trapping experiments illustrated that center dot O-2(-) plays a dominant role in photocatalytic degradation of TC. This work provides a new way for design novel noble metal modified graphic CN photocatalysts.