Plasmonic Ag nanoparticles decorated g-C3N4 for enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic degradation and H2 production

The plasmonic Ag nanoparticles (NPs) loaded g-C₃N₄ photocatalysts (Ag/C₃N₄) were successfully prepared via a conventional procedure. The fully characterized Ag/C₃N₄ photocatalysts exhibited excellent stability and greatly enhanced visible light-driven photocatalytic performance both in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and H₂ evolution from water splitting. The 1.0 wt% Ag/C₃N₄ 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-C₃N₄ alone of 0.0129 min⁻¹. Furthermore, the optimum H₂ evolution and the k value attained 20 µmol 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/C₃N₄. Our methodology will provide guidance for the design and synthesis of plasmon-enhanced visible light photocatalysts derived from Ag NPs and g-C₃N₄ and their applications in environmental remediation and green energy development.