Hydroxyapatite supported Ag3PO4 nanoparticles with higher visible light photocatalytic activity

Hydroxyapatite supported Ag3PO4 nanocomposites have been synthesized by a wet impregnation process. UV–vis absorption spectra show a red shift of the absorption edges for the composite systems compared to pure hydroxyapatite support. The surface structure and morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) apparatus, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results suggest that Ag3PO4 nanoparticles (6–17 nm in diameter) are well dispersed on the hydroxyapatite support and Ag3PO4 nanoparticles density is larger for the higher Ag+ loading sample. The as-prepared nanocomposite photocatalysts showed a pronounced photocatalytic activity upon decomposition of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution under both visible light (wavelength > 400 nm) and UV–vis light irradiation. A synergic mechanism of inherent photocatalytic capability of Ag3PO4 and the accelerated electron/hole separation resulting from the photoinduced electrons captured by the slow-released Ag+ at the interface of Ag3PO4 and hydroxyapatite is proposed for the nanocomposites on the enhancement of photocatalytic performance in comparison to that of pure Ag3PO4 nanoparticles. The support of hydroxyapatite may also act as an absorbent which favors the mass transfer in heterogeneous photocatalysis reaction.