Facile Synthesis of Ag/Ag₃PO₄ Composites with Highly Efficient and Stable Photocatalytic Performance under Visible Light

Abstract

The Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 composites with various shapes (spheres, polyhedral, and microcubes) were synthesized by a facile precipitation method and a subsequent light-reduction route at room temperature. The as-prepared Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 composites were characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, UVvis diffuse reflection, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The growth processes of different morphologies Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 composites are also discussed. The decomposition test of rhodamine B (RhB) indicated that the Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 composites enhanced the photocatalytic performance compared with pure Ag 3 PO 4 , which was attributed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag nanoparticles and the stability of the photocatalysts. Moreover, uniform cubes of Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 showed the highest photocatalytic activity and could completely degrade RhB in 7 min, which could be primarily ascribed to the cubic structure of Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 with strong visible-light absorption and efficient separation of the photo-generated electrons and holes. Furthermore, the possible photocatalytic mechanism is also discussed.

Singlet Oxygen- and Hole-Mediated Selective Oxidation of Arylethylenes to Aryltetralones by Ag/Ag3PO4 under Visible Light Irradiation

“…Figure A shows the PL spectra of both pristine Ag 3 PO 4 and Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 -0.5. Despite the low intensities of both samples, it is obvious that pristine Ag 3 PO 4 exhibited a broad emission peak ranging 460–600 nm . By contrast, Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 -0.5 did not show any emission peak, indicating that the loading of AgNPs inhibited electron–hole recombination of Ag 3 PO 4 and thereby enhanced the subsequent photophysical/photochemical processes.…”

“…Despite the low intensities of both samples, it is obvious that pristine Ag 3 PO 4 exhibited a broad emission peak ranging 460−600 nm. 57 By contrast, Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 -0.5 did not show any emission peak, indicating that the loading of AgNPs inhibited electron−hole recombination of Ag 3 PO 4 and thereby enhanced the subsequent photophysical/photochemical processes. Hence, the photo-generated electrons in the CB of Ag 3 PO 4 migrates to the surface-loaded AgNPs under visible light irradiation.…”

Synthesis of M-Ag3PO4, (M = Se, Ag, Ta) Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial and Cytotoxicity Study

“…Zhuang et al [ 30 ] tested Ag 3 PO 4 /AgBr for enhanced anticorrosion photocatalysis. Gao et al [ 31 ] added nano Ag with Ag 3 PO 4 as a stable photocatalyst under visible light. Xiaohong et al [ 32 ] prepared a powdered film Ag 3 PO 4 @AgBr and tested antibacterial activity; they exhibited a broad spectrum against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ).…”

“…It is necessary to add a probable sacrificial agent or enhanced and quick capture of photo-generated electrons during photocatalysis. Since photo-corrosion leads to a dissociation of Ag + from the Ag 3 PO 4 lattice, either combination of nano Ag [ 30 ] or the addition of an electron acceptor [ 31 ] such as selenium and tantalum, as nanocomposites may prevent it. Previously, Ag 3 PO 4- based nanocomposites such as Ag 3 PO 4 @AgBr [ 32 ], Ag 3 PO 4 /GO [ 33 ], ZnO/Ag 3 PO 4 [ 34 ], Bi 2 MoO 6 /Ag 3 PO 4 [ 35 ], and Ag 3 PO 4 /TiO 2 [ 36 ] were investigated for their photocatalytic and antibacterial activities.…”

Preparation of a Novel Bi2MoO6/Ag/Ag2CrO4 Catalyst with Promoted Visible Light Photodegradation of RhB Dye

“…Silver-based photocatalysts have been extensively investigated [41][42][43][44][45][46][47]. Ag2CrO4 is an ideal semiconductor with an appropriate bandgap (1.75 eV) and better visible light photocatalytic activity [48].…”