Ag/CdPSe₃ Schottky Junction Photocatalyst for Removal of Antibiotic-Contaminated Water

Photocatalysis offers a green and sustainable route for pollutant degradation, with the performance of photocatalysts being a critical factor. Recently, van der Waals materials have gained increasing attention in this field due to their favorable photocatalytic properties. In this study, a novel Ag/CdPSe₃ composite was synthesized via chemical vapor transport, liquid-phase exfoliation, and liquid-phase chemical reduction methods. When the Ag:CdPSe₃ molar ratio was optimized to 2:1 (denoted A2C1), the composite achieved a tetracycline hydrochloride removal efficiency of 91.69% within 60 min of illumination─1.99 times that of CdPSe₃. The A2C1 composite also exhibited effective photocatalytic degradation toward multiple antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and amoxicillin, demonstrating its broad-spectrum application potential. Trapping experiments identified photogenerated holes as the dominant active species, with superoxide radicals playing supporting roles. Mechanistic studies revealed that Ag modification enhanced light absorption in the near-infrared and partial visible regions, while the Schottky junction formed at the Ag/CdPSe₃ interface facilitated efficient photogenerated carrier separation. Together, these factors contribute to the superior photocatalytic performance of A2C1. This work provides new insights into the design of high-performance photocatalysts based on van der Waals materials.