Effect of monobasic/dibasic phosphate salts on the crystallinity, physical properties and photocatalytic performance of Ag₃PO₄ material

Abstract

<abstract> <p>Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> was prepared by the precipitation method using monobasic/dibasic phosphate salts (K<sub>2</sub>HPO<sub>4</sub>, KH<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>, Na<sub>2</sub>HPO<sub>4</sub>, NaH<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>) as a precipitating agent. The environment created by the precursor salts strong affected on the crystallinity and the morphology of Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>. Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> synthesized from dibasic phosphate salts exhibited pseudospherical morphology and small particle size while monobasic phosphate salts promoted crystallization, resulting in a large grain size and a very diverse grain morphology. Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> prepared from dibasic phosphate salts (K<sub>2</sub>HPO<sub>4</sub> and Na<sub>2</sub>HPO<sub>4</sub>) exhibited superior photocatalytic ability, completely degrading rhodamine B (RhB) in 8 min and 10 min under Xenon lamp irradiation, respectively. This result once again confirms the necessity of particle size reduction in the production of photocatalysts.</p> </abstract>