Boosting Visible-Light Photocatalytic Performance of Ag@Ag₃PO₄ Microcrystals: For Antibacterial Application and Effective Degradation of Toxic Rhodamine B Dye

This study analyzes silver-doped silver phosphate (Ag@Ag₃PO₄) microspheres utilizing visible light to accelerate the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and evaluate its antibacterial efficacy against Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Ag₃PO₄, well-known for its photocatalytic activity under visible light, was synthesized and doped with silver to enhance its photocatalytic efficiency. Ag@Ag₃PO₄ microcrystals were characterized using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study confirmed the successful synthesis of Ag@Ag₃PO₄ microcrystals with well-defined structures and surface characteristics favourable to photocatalytic activity and antibacterial activity. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by measuring the degradation of RhB, a commonly used dye, under visible light. The conditions for achieving optimum degradation efficiency were optimized by varying several factors, such as solution pH, catalyst concentration, and stability. The results exhibited a notable improvement in the process of breaking down of RhB under visible light, which can be attributed to the distinctive characteristics of the Ag@Ag₃PO₄ microcrystals. The degradation process exhibited kinetics that conformed to a pseudo-first-order model, and the involvement of reactive oxygen species in the photocatalytic process was examined. Ag@Ag₃PO₄ microspheres also exhibited promising antibacterial activity. The Agar well diffusion method was used to conduct the antibacterial study, which revealed a 22-mm and 20-mm zone of inhibition (ZOI) against Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), respectively, These results demonstrate the dual functionality of Ag@Ag₃PO₄ microcrystals in environmental remediation, making this material suitable for photocatalytic degradation and antibacterial applications.