Preparation and visible-light-driven photocatalytic property of AgX (X = Cl, Br, I) nanomaterials

Numerous efforts have been attempted to improve the photocatalytic performance of AgX (X = Cl, Br, I), because its drawback of the reduction of Ag+ into Ag0 under illumination would always largely decrease its stability and lifetime. However, the photocatalytic performance of AgX (X = Cl, Br, I) itself has been long ignored. Herein, novel convex polyhedral-like AgCl and AgBr as well as flake-like AgI were successfully prepared by a simple high-temperature solution method at the atmospheric pressure. The as-prepared samples have been verified to possess extremely excellent photocatalytic performance for the degradation of various organic pollutants, including rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO) as well as doxycycline (DOX) and the deactivation of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Besides, the stability of AgX (X = Cl, Br, I) has also been investigated in details. [Display omitted] •Novel AgX (X = Cl, Br, I) were prepared by a simple high-temperature solution method.•AgX exhibit extremely excellent photocatalytic activities for various applications.•The stability of AgX photocatalysts is investigated in details for the first time.