Facet Effect of Single-Crystalline Ag_3PO_4 Sub-microcrystals on Photocatalytic Properties

摘要

We recently reported that Ag_3PO_4 exhibits excellent photooxidative capabilities for O_2 evolution from water and organic dye decomposition under visible-light irradiation. However, very little is known about the shape and facet effects of Ag_3PO_4 crystals on their photocatalytic properties. Herein we have developed a facile and general route for high-yield fabrication of single-crystalline Ag_3PO_4 rhombic dodecahedrons with only {110} facets exposed and cubes bounded entirely by {100} facets. Moreover, studies of their photocatalytic performance have indicated that rhombic dodecahedrons exhibit much higher activities than cubes for the degradation of organic contaminants, which may be primarily ascribed to the higher surface energy of {110} facets (1.31 J/m~2) than of {100} facets (1.12 J/m~2).