Ag 3 PO 4 Semiconductor Photocatalyst: Possibilities and Challenges

Ag 3 PO 4 as a photocatalyst has attracted enormous attention in recent years due to its great potential in harvesting solar energy for environmental purification and fuel production. The photocatalytic performance of Ag 3 PO 4 strongly depends on its morphology, exposed facets, and particle size. The effects of morphology and orientation of Ag 3 PO 4 on the catalytic performance and the efforts on the stability improvement of Ag 3 PO 4 are reviewed here. This paper also discusses the current theoretical understanding of photocatalytic mechanism of Ag 3 PO 4 , together with the recent progress towards developing Ag 3 PO 4 composite photocatalysts. The crucial issues that should be addressed in future research activities are finally highlighted.