Novel rugby-ball-like Zn3(PO4)2@C3N4 photocatalyst with highly enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance

Abstract An interesting rugby-ball-like Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 @C 3 N 4 photocatalyst with well- controlled structures as high-efficient visible-light photocatalysts was synthesized via two steps of solvothermal-grinding calcination method. The composition, structure, morphology, and optical absorption properties of as-synthesized Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 @C 3 N 4 samples were intensively characterized by XRD, N 2 physical adsorption, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, UV–vis DRS, XPS, PL and photoelectrochemical measurements, respectively. The formation of C 3 N 4 shell obviously increased the surface area and induced the rich pore structures. The intimate interface between Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 and C 3 N 4 phase obviously enhanced the transport rate of photogenerated carriers and restrained the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. The optimal Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 @C 3 N 4 (35 wt%) exhibited the highest adsorption and photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue (MB), which was 150 and 7.5 times as high as C 3 N 4 , respectively. Moreover, the robust Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 @C 3 N 4 nanoheterojunctions fabricated by this grinding-calcination route have high stability in recycling reactions.