Effects of Ag nanoparticles on morphology and photocatalytic activities of GaN microrods arrays

Ag-loaded GaN microrods arrays were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and spectrofluorometry. The results show that Ag-loaded microrods with rough surface had a diameter of about 1.5 μm. The obtained Ag-loaded GaN microrods were composed by face-centered-cubic metallic Ag and hexagonal wurtzite GaN. Comparisons of Ag-loaded GaN microrod arrays with pure sheet-like GaN displayed that the Ag-loaded GaN microrod arrays exhibited higher photocatalytic activity. The possible mechanisms of high photocatalytic activity should be ascribed to the added Ag nanoparticles act as a sink for photo-generated electrons.