Template-free and eco-friendly synthesis of hierarchical Ag₃PO₄ microcrystals with sharp corners and edges for enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light

Herein, we demonstrate a template-free and eco-friendly strategy to synthesize hierarchical Ag₃PO₄ microcrystals with sharp corners and edges via silver–ammine complex at room temperature. The as-synthesized hierarchical Ag₃PO₄ microcrystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), BET surface area analyzer, and photoluminescence analysis (PL). Our results clearly indicated that the as-synthesized Ag₃PO₄ microcrystals possess a hierarchical structure with sharp corners and edges. More attractively, the adsorption ability and visible light photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized hierarchical Ag₃PO₄ is much higher than that of conventional Ag₃PO₄.