Facile synthesis of TiO/AgPO composites with co-exposed high-energy facets for efficient photodegradation of rhodamine B solution under visible light irradiation.

In this study, TiO/AgPO composites based on anatase TiO nanocrystals with co-exposed {101}, {010}/{100}, {001} and [111]-facets and AgPO microcrystals with irregular and cubic-like polyhedron morphologies were successfully synthesized by combining hydrothermal and ion-exchange methods. The anatase TiO nanocrystals with different high-energy facets were controllably prepared hydrothermal treatment of the exfoliated [TiO]/[TiO] nanosheet solutions at desired pH values. The AgPO microcrystal with different morphologies was prepared the ion-exchange method in the presence of AgNO and NHHPO at room temperature, which was used as a substrate to load the as-prepared anatase TiO nanocrystals on its surface and to form TiO/AgPO heterostructures.