Facile synthesis of porous Ag3PO4 nanotubes for enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light

- Porous Ag3PO4 nanotubes were fabricated successfully from Ag2CO3 nanorods templates.
- The formation process of the Ag3PO4 PNTs has been investigated.
- Nanoholes were existed on the side wall of the tubular structure.
- The porous Ag3PO4 nanotubes show higher photocatalytic activity than Ag2CO3 nanorods and irregular Ag3PO4.
- The photocatalytic mechanism of the Ag3PO4 PNTs was described.