Plasmonic Ag nanoparticles decorated g-C_(3)N_(4)for enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic degradation and H_(2)production

The plasmonic Ag nanoparticles(NPs)loaded g-C_(3)N_(4)photocatalysts(Ag/C_(3)N_(4))were successfully prepared via a conventional procedure.The fully characterized Ag/C_(3)N_(4)photocatalysts exhibited excellent stability and greatly enhanced visible light-driven photocatalytic performance both in the degradation of methyl orange(MO)and H_(2)evolution from water splitting.The 1.0 wt%Ag/C_(3)N_(4)allowed the highest reaction rate of 0.0294 min^(−1)to be obtained in the MO degradation,which is about 2.3 times higher than the reaction rate of g-C_(3)N_(4)alone of 0.0129 min^(−1).Furthermore,the optimum H_(2)evolution and the k value attained 20μmol and 1.573 h^(−1),respectively,after 12 h of visible light irradiation.The surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag NPs and the charge transfer between the two components of the photocatalyst,strongly promote generation of photoinduced charge carriers while suppressing their recombination.These factors are held responsible for the enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance of Ag/C_(3)N_(4).Our methodology will provide guidance for the design and synthesis of plasmon-enhanced visible light photocatalysts derived from Ag NPs and g-C_(3)N_(4)and their applications in environmental remediation and green energy development.