Size-controlled synthesis of Ag3PO4 nanorods and their high-performance photocatalysis for dye degradation under visible-light irradiation

• Published in: Materials letters 2014-09, Vol.130, p.97-100
• Main Authors: Li, Xiang-Zi, Wu, Kong-Lin, Dong, Chao, Xia, Shan-Hui, Ye, Yin, Wei, Xian-Wen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ag3PO4 nanorods; Dyes degradation; Nanocrystalline materials; Photocatalysis; Semiconductors
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2014.05.069

Highly uniform Ag3PO4 nanorods with different sizes were fabricated by an easy chemical deposition process onto polycarbonate (PC) template. The average diameters of the synthesized nanorods were ~2.0μm, 275nm, or ~85nm using PC membrane with different pore sizes. The morphologies, structures, compositions, and photocatalysis tests of the as-prepared Ag3PO4 nanorods were studied in detail. Results indicated that the nanorods had high photocatalytic efficiency for the photodegradation of rhodamine B, methylene blue, and Congo Red under visible-light irradiation. Only the nanorods with a mezzo diameter (275nm) showed the best photocatalytic activity because of the combined effects of their morphology and size. •Ag3PO4 nanorods were fabricated with an easy template-assisted chemical deposition approach.•The size of Ag3PO4 nanorods can be controlled by template pore diameter.•Ag3PO4 nanorods presented high performance photocatalytic activities for RhB, MB, and CR.•The size-effect on the photocatalytic properties of three Ag3PO4 nanorods were all studied.•The photocatalytic activities of the Ag3PO4 products were dependent on the balance between the size and the morphology.