Visible photocatalytic performance of nanostructured molybdenum-doped Ag₃PO₄: Doping approach

Mo-doped Ag₃PO₄ (AP) nanopowders with different Mo-ions loading (0–30%) were synthesized by a facile method of one-step synthesis procedure. Several techniques are used to characterize the as-prepared samples. X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) identifies the crystallographic phases. Light adsorption affinity and the band gap calculation by studied using optical diffused reflectance spectroscopy (ODR). Surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The characterization data confirmed the presence of Mo-Ag₃PO₄ nanostructured with the new phase at the high doping of Mo. The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared composites were evaluated by the photodegradation of methylene blue and colorless phenol under visible light illumination. The obtained photocatalytic results showed that the low doping of Mo in A₃PO₄ matrix exhibit sufficient efficiency than that of high doping. The samples with 1% Mo-doped Ag₃PO₄ nanomaterials exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity performance as the rate constant was about 0.55 min⁻¹ and 0.12 min⁻¹ for MB and phenol. While the rate constant was 0.2 min⁻¹ and 0.06 min⁻¹ in presence of pure Ag₃PO₄. Mo-doped A₃PO₄ can consider as a new trend in the material design for photocatalytic decolorization activity.