(Yb3+,Er3+) co-doped TiO2/Ag3PO4 hybrid photocatalyst with enhanced activity for photodegradation of phenol

Rare earth ions doped TiO₂ is supposed to convert near-infrared (NIR) light into visible light that can be absorbed by the visible-light-driven photocatalyst. In this work, a new (Yb³⁺,Er³⁺) co-doped TiO₂/Ag₃PO₄ hybrid photocatalyst with up-conversion function had been prepared. The as-prepared composite exhibited much more enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity towards degradation of phenol than that of pure Ag₃PO₄ and TiO₂/Ag₃PO₄, which can be ascribed to the extended light absorption range and efficient charge separation property. The possible intermediate products generated during the photodegradation of phenol were also investigated. A possible photodegradation pathway for phenol and a mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity were proposed. This work may provide a new insight into the preparation of hybrid photocatalyst consisting of up-conversion materials and visible-light-driven photocatalysts for the applications in degradation of harmful organic compounds under sunlight irradiation.