Size-controlled synthesis of Ag3PO4 nanorods and their high-performance photocatalysis for dye degradation under visible-light irradiation

• Ag3PO4 nanorods were fabricated with an easy template-assisted chemical deposition approach.
• The size of Ag3PO4 nanorods can be controlled by template pore diameter.
• Ag3PO4 nanorods presented high performance photocatalytic activities for RhB, MB, and CR.
• The size-effect on the photocatalytic properties of three Ag3PO4 nanorods were all studied.
• The photocatalytic activities of the Ag3PO4 products were dependent on the balance between the size and the morphology.

Highly uniform Ag3PO4 nanorods with different sizes were fabricated by an easy chemical deposition process onto polycarbonate (PC) template. The average diameters of the synthesized nanorods were ~2.0 μm, 275 nm, or ~85 nm using PC membrane with different pore sizes. The morphologies, structures, compositions, and photocatalysis tests of the as-prepared Ag3PO4 nanorods were studied in detail. Results indicated that the nanorods had high photocatalytic efficiency for the photodegradation of rhodamine B, methylene blue, and Congo Red under visible-light irradiation. Only the nanorods with a mezzo diameter (275 nm) showed the best photocatalytic activity because of the combined effects of their morphology and size.