High-efficient visible-light photocatalyst based on graphene incorporated Ag3PO4 nanocomposite applicable for the degradation of a wide variety of dyes

The graphene incorporated silver phosphate nanocomposites (Ag3PO4/G) with different graphene contents were in situ synthesized in the present study using a simple hydrothermal method. The visible light photocatalytic activities of the prepared Ag3PO4/G were then studied through degrading different kinds of dyes in the water. The results show that the prepared Ag3PO4/G had a good morphology in which the Ag3PO4 dispersed uniformly on the graphene sheets surface. Moreover, the introduction of the graphene largely enhanced the photo-degradation efficiency of the Ag3PO4. The prepared Ag3PO4/G nanocomposites were able to degrade a variable of organic dyes, including heterocyclic dye, indigo dye, anthraquinone dye, and azo dye under visible light irradiation within a certain period of time. The present study provides promising photocatalysts which could degrade different kinds of dyes efficiently under visible light. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.