Polyelectrolyte-triggered transformation of various types of AgBr microstructures into AgBr nanophotocatalysts with a...

AgBr nanostructures with unified shapes and sizes were prepared using simple polyelectrolyte (PE) coatings on various AgBr microstructures that were prepared by mixing silver precursors with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) under controlled conditions. The AgBr microstructures (plates, rods, and wires), regardless of initial structures or sizes, transformed into cubic AgBr nanoparticles (CNPs) after only three PE coatings. The electrostatic interactions between the PEs and the CTAB in the AgBr microstructures are the crucial factors that control the shapes and sizes of the AgBr microstructures. During the PE coating, the AgBr microstructures were transformed and rearranged into AgBr CNPs with favorable catalytic faces that enhanced the photocatalytic activity. The size- and shape-controlled AgBr CNPs showed excellent photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methylene orange (MO) dyes under visible-light irradiation without deterioration even after multiple uses.