Ag@AgCl QDs Decorated G-C3n4 Nanoplates: the Photoinduced Charge Transfer Behavior under Visible Light and Full Arc Irradiation

The quantum dots (QDs) Ag@AgCl decorated g-C3N4 nanoplates was synthesized via a facile oil-in-water self-assembly method, which possessed high dispersion by characterization of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The as-obtained Ag@AgCl/g-C3N4 nanoheterostructure contained a wide band gap of AgCl nanoparticles (NPs), the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag NPs and a narrow band gap of g-C3N4 nanoplates. The AgCl NPs with a wide band gap was excited under UV-light, which played a key role on the photoinduced charge transfer of Ag@AgCl/g-C3N4. Under the visible light irradiation, the electrons transfered to the CB of AgCl (electron acceptor) and the holes lefted in the VB of g-C3N4. Nevertheless, under the full arc irradiation, the electrons and holes stayed in the CB of g-C3N4 and VB of AgCl, respectively, then the AgCl was electron donor. The photoinduced charge transfer behavior of Ag@AgCl/g-C3N4 was verified by the photoelectrochemical measurements under the visible light and the full arc irradiation. The results showed that the difference of charge transfer behavior under visible light and the full arc influences on the photoinduced charge transfer ability, further leading to changing the water redox potential in the Ag@AgCl/g-C3N4 nano-heterostructure (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.