Hydrothermal syntheses of silver phosphate nanostructures and their photocatalytic performance for organic pollutant degradation

Photocatalysis has been recognized as a potential strategy for energy conversion and environmental remediation. In this study, we present a facile hydrothermal method for the controlled syntheses of Ag₅P₃O₁₀, Ag₄P₂O₇/Ag₃PO₄ and Ag₃PO₄ photocatalysts by using sodium triphosphate (Na₅P₃O₁₀) as the phosphate source. The phase structure and morphology of the products were investigated by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activities of the synthesized Ag₅P₃O₁₀, Ag₄P₂O₇/Ag₃PO₄ and Ag₃PO₄ nanostructures were evaluated by the degradation of organic pollutants under simulated sunlight irradiation. The kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation reaction is presented. It is revealed that the photocatalytic activity increases in the order of Ag₅P₃O₁₀, Ag₄P₂O₇/Ag₃PO₄ and Ag₃PO₄, and the Ag₃PO₄ nanocrystals show the best photocatalytic performance. The photocatalytic mechanism was systematically investigated, and the superoxide radicals (O₂^•−) and photoinduced holes are considered to contribute mostly to the high photocatalytic activity of Ag₃PO₄.