Facile synthesis of porous Ag3PO4 nanotubes for enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light

Abstract Porous Ag 3 PO 4 nanotubes (PNTs) were synthesized via a surface anion exchange reaction from the pregrown Ag 2 CO 3 nanorods (NRs) templates in the aqueous solution. The rationally release rate of H + and PO 4 3− from Na 2 HPO 4 are proved to be the key factors for the formation of Ag 3 PO 4 PNTs. SEM analysis indicated that Ag 3 PO 4 PNTs have a nearly homogeneous size with about 350 nm diameter, 2.1 μm length and 74 nm wall thickness. Nanoholes with diameters in range of 40–200 nm were existed on the side wall of the tubular structure. Compared with irregular Ag 3 PO 4 , Ag 3 PO 4 PNTs exhibit an apparently enhancement of visible-light absorption and a significant decrease of PL intensities, indicating a better light absorption and a lower charge recombination rate. The photocatalytic performance studies for the degradation of RhB indicate that Ag 3 PO 4 PNTs not only exhibit the highest adsorption ability towards dye molecules, but also possess superior photocatalytic activity than that of Ag 2 CO 3 NRs and irregular Ag 3 PO 4 . The origin of the higher photocatalytic activity is primarily ascribed to the peculiar porous tubular nanostructure. h + and •O 2− are investigated to be the major reactive species for the Ag 3 PO 4 PNTs photocatalytic system.