A new solvothermal route to crystalline proustite Ag3AsS3 with photocatalytic properties

•A new solvothermal method has been prepared crystalline proustite Ag3AsS3.•Ag3AsS3 shows nonlinear optical second harmonic generation response.•Ag3AsS3 exhibits excellent activities for the degradation of MB dye under visible-light.

A new solvothermal method has been successfully prepared crystalline proustite Ag3AsS3 (1) by the reactions of As2O3, AgNO3 and elemental sulfur in diaminopropane (dap) at 160 °C for 3 days. The crystalline material of 1 was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and nonlinear optical determination. The three-dimensional polar framework of 1 is constructed by the linkages of unsymmetrical [AsS3] trigonal pyramids and T-shaped [AgS3] units via bridging S atoms. The absorption edge of 1 is 2.03 eV, exhibiting properties of the semiconductor, and its theoretical band structure has also been studied. Photocatalytic experiments have shown the ability of 1 in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light (λ > 420 nm).

Graphical abstractA new solvothermal method has been successfully prepared crystalline Ag3AsS3 by solvothermal techniques. Photocatalytic experiments have shown the ability of Ag3AsS3 in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light (λ > 420 nm).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide