Morphologically engineered silver phosphate with polymer and ionic liquids to enhance photoactivity

Abstract

Two different strategies are investigated to control the size and morphology of silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) crystals to improve the photoactivity in water photooxidation. In aqueous crystallization reactions the biopolymer additive carboxymethyl dextran sodium (CM Dextran sodium) could decrease the particle size and regulate the morphology of Ag3PO4. The Ag3PO4 with smaller and uniform shape evolved more oxygen under visible light irradiation when using AgNO3 as sacrificial agent. Nonaqueous synthesis of Ag3PO4 with mixtures of the ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [BMIM](OAc) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dihydrogen phosphate [BMIM]H2PO4)) is reported for the first time. The effect of reactant concentration and temperature on crystal morphology were systematically investigated. An optimum set of conditions was found for producing crystals with a unique morphology. The higher surface area of these crystals was reflected in enhanced oxygen evolution and photostability compared to all other ionic liquid and biopolymer systems tested. The project studied the interaction between ionic liquids with inorganic reactants and the influence of water addition to the Ag3PO4 formation. In conclusion,
through controlling the size and morphology, polymer (CM Dextran sodium) and ionic liquids could remarkably enhance the photoactivity of Ag3PO4

Date of Award	23 Jun 2020
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Sean A Davis (Supervisor) & Avinash J Patil (Supervisor)