Nanostructured AgBr loaded TiO 2: An efficient sunlight active photocatalyst for degradation of Reactive Red 120

Abstract

The AgBr loaded TiO 2catalyst was prepared by a feasible approach with AgBr and tetraisopropyl orthotitanate and characterized by BET surface area measurement, diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectra (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) analysis. The results of characterization reveal that AgBr loaded TiO 2has a nanostructure. Formation of the nanostructure in AgBr loaded TiO 2results in substantial shifting of the absorption edge of TiO 2to red and enhancement of visible light absorption. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements reveal that AgBr loaded TiO 2has a higher photoconductivity than prepared TiO 2due to higher separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal enhanced conductivity in AgBr loaded TiO 2, which causes an increase in its photocatalytic activity. AgBr loaded TiO 2exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity than TiO 2-P25 and prepared TiO 2in the photodegradation of Reactive Red 120 (RR 120). © 2011 Velmurugan et al.