Visible-light-driven semiconducting photocatalysts of Ag3PO4were prepared by a hydrothermal method, and were optimized by adjusting reaction conditions, i.e., temperature,
pH of reaction solution, concentration of feedstock, and time of hydrothermal process. The
obtained photocatalysts were then systematically characterized by different instruments,
such as XRD, UVevis, FESEM, and BET, to reveal the physicochemical properties.
Furthermore, activities of photocatalysts for visible-light-driven O2evolution were evaluated, demonstrating that the photocatalytic activity of Ag3PO4prepared by hydrothermal
reaction (initial rate of O2evolution, 1156mmol g1
h
1
) was more than two times as that
of sample prepared by room-temperature reaction (initial rate of O2 evolution,
533mmol g1
h
1
), which could be attributed to its better ability to utilize visible light and
more regulated morphology.
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