Visible-light-induced photocatalysis using self-organized TiO₂ nanotubes decorated with AgBr deposits

Self-organized TiO₂ nanotubes formed anodically in fluoride ion containing electrolyte were loaded with AgBr clusters from a precipitation reaction bath. The photoactivities of these nanotubes for decomposition of an azo dye were investigated under visible light irradiation and compared with those of the N-doped self-organized TiO₂ nanotubes and neat TiO₂ nanotubes. Compared with the N-doped nanotubes, the AgBr-loaded nanotubes demonstrate a significantly higher visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity-–even higher than for neat nanotubes irradiated with UV light.