The influence of Ag in TiO2/NGP composites as a high performance photocatalyst under UV and visible light irradiation

Abstract

Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized using a sol-gel method, and Ag/TiO2/NGP composites were synthesized using a co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis absorbance, Raman spectometry, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used for the characterization of prepared samples. The photocatalytic performance of all prepared samples was tested by removing methylene blue (MB) dyes. Photocatalytic activity using UV and visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic performance of all Ag/TiO2/NGP composites was much higher than pure TiO2 and TiO2/NGP composites. The enhanced photocatalytic ability is predominantly due to the properties of NGP and the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag nanoparticles (NP). The NGP acted as an electron transporter and acceptor in composites and inhibited electron-hole recombination. The Ag NPs acted as an electron trap, making the separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs easier. The best condition for the photocatalytic activity of Ag/TiO2/NGP composites was pH 13. Holes were the major radicals involved in the photocatalytic process of Ag/TiO2/NGP composites.