Decolorization of Methylene Blue by Photocatalyst in the Ag3PO4-AgI System
The co-effect of PO43- and I- on the formation of a heterosturucture photocatalyst in the Ag3PO4-AgI system was studied by the co-precipitation method between AgNO3 and the precipitating agent. The precipitating agent was prepared by varying the mole ratios between Na2HPO4 and KI. At 10 mol.% KI, the product showed the mixed phase between Ag3PO4 and un-identified phase. For 30 - 90 mol.% KI, the un-identified phase and AgI were detected in the x-ray diffraction patterns. The un-identified phase strongly adsorbed the methylene blue dye. The product prepared from 30 mol.% KI had the highest content of un-identified phase and also showed the highest degree of decolorization in the dark. The photocatalytic properties of products in this system were confirmed by the decolorization of methylene blue under visible illumination.