A Tale of Reactive Oxygen Species on the Ag3PO4(110) Surface
Abstract: Herein, we report a study of Ag3PO4 microcrystals in the accomplishment of their enhanced degradation process and bactericidal activity. Based on experimental results and density functional theory free energy profiles, we propose a new mechanism for the multifunctional competence of the Ag3PO4(110) surface. Coadsorbed H2O and O2 molecules regulate an energetically favorable pathway that efficiently activates the dissociation of H2O and stabilizes the formed reactive oxygen species (ROS) precursors: hydroxyl (•OH) and superoxide (•O2–) radicals. This work is a proof of concept to interpret the surface reactions on Ag3PO4 and provides a new perspective to understand at the atomic level the catalytic process/mechanism for the initial stages of ROS production on metal oxide semiconductor surfaces.
Author(s): Felipe Lipsky, Luis Henrique da Silveira Lacerda, Lourdes Gracia, Beatriz G. Foschiani, Marcelo Assis, Mónica Oliva, Elson Longo, Juan Andrés, and Miguel A. San-Miguel
J. Phys. Chem. C
Published: November 20, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c06321
CDMF
The CDMF, hosted at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), is one of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (RIDC) supported by the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Fapesp), and also receives investment from the National Council Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), from the National Institute of Science and Technology of Materials in Nanotechnology (INCTMN).