Interface kinetic diffusion reaction leading to fast and continuous generation of AgCl nanocubes in NaCl solution

It is found that the electrochemical corrosion of a silver sheet anode in NaCl solution gives rise to a fast and continuous way of generating AgCl nanocubes with good uniform morphology. We examined the factors affecting the size and morphologies of AgCl nanocubes, which include the applied voltage, the concentration of NaCl, and that of Na2SO4 added to enhance the conductivity of the NaCl solution as well as the physical ways of solution mixing and the placement of the Ag sheet anode with respect to the Pt cathode. Analysis of these factors indicates that the fast and continuous generation of AgCl nanocubes requires the presence of the interface reaction layer formed by the kinetic diffusion of Ag(+) and Cl(-) ions. The AgCl nanocubes possess {001} facets and uniform morphology, and the Ag@AgCl nanocubes have much higher photocatalytic activity than do the irregularly-shaped Ag@AgCl particles made from the conventional precipitation method.