Facile aqueous synthesis of β-AgI nanoplates as efficient visible-light-responsive photocatalyst

Owing to far-ranging industrial applications and theoretical researches, tailored synthesis of well-defined nanocrystals has attracted substantial research interest. Herein, β-AgI nanoplates have been synthesized through a facile polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted-aqueous-solution (PAAS) method under mild conditions. The parametric studies on the effect of ratio of reactants, solvents and surfactants were performed, revealing that a molar ratio of I(-) to Ag(+) of 1.2 in deionized water and the presence of appropriate PVP as stabilizing agent can stimulate the preferred orientation growth of AgI nanoplates. The as-synthesized AgI nanoplates exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity and enhanced durability towards the degradation of organics, i.e., rhodamine B (RhB), under visible light illumination in comparison with corresponding bulk nanoparticles. A possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism was discussed, revealing O2˙(-) and h(+) are main reactive species and free ˙OH radicals in solution also contribute to the degradation reaction. The superior photocatalytic performance renders the as-achieved AgI nanoplates promising candidates for applications in the fields of environmental purification or water disinfection. The present work opens an avenue to the synthesis of other shaped silver halide nanophotocatalysts.