3D AgCl microstructures selectively fabricated via Cl--induced precipitation from [Ag(NH3)2]+

Herein various AgCl microstructures including octapods, octapods with fishbone pods, hexapods, hexapods with 4-blade arrowhead pods, concave octahedra, and octahedra are selectively precipitated from a [Ag(NH3)(2)](+) solution by addition of Cl-. The microstructures were rapidly formed and precipitated within 5 min. In a Cl--rich environment, the octapod grew from cubic seeds as the growth along the < 111 > directions was favorable. The hexapod grew from octahedral seeds in an NH4OH-rich environment as the growth along the < 100 > directions dominated. By manipulating the seed morphology and the growth environment, complex AgCl microstructures of thermodynamically unfavorable structures (hexapods and octahedra) can be selectively fabricated. A potential application of AgCl microstructures as photocatalysts was explored by partial photo-reduction of the surface AgCl into isolated AgNPs. The fabricated AgCl microstructures were turned into efficient Ag@AgCl visible-light photocatalysts as complete decomposition of methyl orange was achieved within 20 min. This work not only explores a method to control the preferential growth of AgCl microstructures along the < 100 > and < 111 > directions but also provides an in-depth understanding on the crystal growth mechanisms and how to manipulate them efficiently.