TiO2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of dyes under visible light irradiation

Abstract

TiO2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite was prepared by incorporating AgCl nanoparticles within the bulk of TiO2 porous ceramic followed by reducing Ag+ in the AgCl particles to Ag0 species under visible light irradiation. The porous TiO2 ceramic was physically robust and chemically durable, and the porous structure facilitated the implantation of AgCl NPs. Compared with the bare TiO2 ceramic, TiO2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite exhibited higher photocatalytic performance for the degradation of MO and RhB under visible light irradiation. The reaction rate constants k of MO and RhB degradation over TiO2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite was respectively 6.25 times and 3.62 times higher than those recorded over the bare TiO2 porous ceramic. The photocatalytic activity showed virtually no decline after four times cyclic experiments under visible light irradiation. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the TiO2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite.