AgBr/TiO2/g-C3N4 ternary composites with dual Z-scheme heterojunction for efficient removal of organic dye

TiO 2 nanosheets with exposed (001) facets synthesized via hydrothermal method were coupled with g-C 3 N 4 via ball milling. Based on TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 (TC) heterojunction, AgBr/TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 (ATC) ternary composites were obtained through in-situ deposition-precipitation method. The ATC catalyst demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activities versus individual components. The degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB) over ATC catalyst with AgBr content of 60 wt% reached 99.7% within 30 min. The composites exhibited outstanding photocatalytic efficiency resulting from the heterojunction between AgBr, TiO 2 , and g-C 3 N 4 which significantly decreased the electron-hole pair recombination rate. The trapping experiments indicated that superoxide radicals and holes were the primary active species involved in RhB removal. The charge transfer mechanism was analyzed in accordance with the energy band structure, revealing a double Z-scheme heterojunction. • Ball-milled TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 was coupled with AgBr by deposition method. • AgBr/TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 composites could degrade 99.7% RhB within 30 min. • Dual Z-scheme mechanism of AgBr/TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 was proposed.