Mesoporous Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites with greatly enhanced photocatalytic performance towards degradation of methyl orange under visible light

Zhengfeng Zhao; Yingzi Wang; Jing Xu; Yan Wang

doi:10.1039/C5RA12065A

Mesoporous Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposites with greatly enhanced photocatalytic performance towards degradation of methyl orange under visible light†

Zhengfeng Zhao,^ab Yingzi Wang,^a Jing Xu^a and Yan Wang*^ab

* Corresponding authors

^a School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, No. 336, West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, PR China
E-mail: mse_wangy@ujn.edu.cn
Fax: +86-531-87974453
Tel: +86-531-82765473

^b Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Preparation & Measurement of Building Materials, University of Jinan, No. 336, West Road of Nan Xinzhuang, Jinan 250022, PR China

Abstract

Ag/TiO₂ photocatalysis has received tremendous attention as a potential solution to the worldwide energy shortage and for counteracting environmental degradation. Here, the combination of dealloying with calcination has been used to fabricate mesoporous Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposites with a large specific surface area of 90.18 m² g⁻¹. In these nanocomposites, the Ag nanoparticles are well dispersed in the mesoporous anatase TiO₂ matrix with a 3 dimensional network structure. More importantly, the Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposites show greatly enhanced photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methyl orange under visible light as well as UV irradiation, compared to commercial P25. The photocatalytic mechanism has been rationalized on the basis of a Schottky junction, co-existence of metallic Ag, and large specific surface area. The present Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposites show great potentials for photocatalysis under solar light.

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Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA12065A
Article type: Paper
Submitted: 23 Jun 2015
Accepted: 01 Jul 2015
First published: 01 Jul 2015

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RSC Adv., 2015,5, 59297-59305

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Mesoporous Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposites with greatly enhanced photocatalytic performance towards degradation of methyl orange under visible light

Z. Zhao, Y. Wang, J. Xu and Y. Wang, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 59297 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA12065A

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