Ag ⁰ particle channel Z scheme <scp>AgBr</scp> / <scp> C ₃ N ₅ </scp> heterojunction construction and degradation performance of organic pollutants

Abstract Organic pollutants such as organic dyes and formaldehyde pose serious environmental problems. Nitrogen‐rich carbon nitride (C 3 N 5 ) is widely used as an efficient photocatalyst in the field of organic pollutant degradation. However, the photocatalytic activity of C 3 N 5 is limited by the rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers. In this study, AgBr/C 3 N 5 heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as a template and bromine source and AgNO 3 as the silver source. Under visible light excitation, electrons on AgBr absorb photons and continuously reduce Ag + to Ag 0 , yielding an AgBr/Ag 0 /C 3 N 5 Z‐scheme and Schottky dual heterojunction. Ag 0 nanoparticles create fast electron‐transfer pathways across the AgBr‐C 3 N 5 interfacial region, enabling directional transfer from AgBr to Ag 0 to C 3 N 5 . High‐redox‐activity holes and electrons are preserved at the AgBr valence band and C 3 N 5 conduction band. Establishing Z‐scheme and Schottky heterojunctions broadens the visible‐light response range and promotes efficient charge separation. The AgBr/C 3 N 5 photocatalyst shows excellent degradation performance toward Rhodamine B and formaldehyde, achieving maximum degradation efficiencies of 98.42% and 95.08%, respectively. Utilizing Ag 0 as an electron‐transfer channel in Z‐scheme heterojunctions provides a theoretical basis for developing next‐generation photocatalytic materials.