Ag3PO4 photocatalyst: Hydrothermal preparation and enhanced O2 evolution under visible-light irradiation

•Ag3PO4 photocatalysts were synthesized by optimized hydrothermal method.•Photocatalytic O2 evolution activity was doubled due to hydrothermal treatment.•Better visible-light absorption and more regulated morphology were key factors.

Visible-light-driven semiconducting photocatalysts of Ag3PO4 were prepared by a hydrothermal method, and were optimized by adjusting reaction conditions, i.e., temperature, pH of reaction solution, concentration of feedstock, and time of hydrothermal process. The obtained photocatalysts were then systematically characterized by different instruments, such as XRD, UV–vis, FESEM, and BET, to reveal the physicochemical properties. Furthermore, activities of photocatalysts for visible-light-driven O2 evolution were evaluated, demonstrating that the photocatalytic activity of Ag3PO4 prepared by hydrothermal reaction (initial rate of O2 evolution, 1156 μmol g−1 h−1) was more than two times as that of sample prepared by room-temperature reaction (initial rate of O2 evolution, 533 μmol g−1 h−1), which could be attributed to its better ability to utilize visible light and more regulated morphology.