Preparation and properties of visible-light response Ag-TiO2photocatalysts

Ag-doped TiO2composite nanoparticles with the template of CTAB were prepared by the sol-gel process. The samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, N2adsorption-desorption and UV-vis. The result show that Ag/CTAB-TiO2had anatase crystal phase, the dopant Ag existed as Ag (0). And the composite nanoparticles had loose structure. The photo-response of the sample was greatly shifted into the visible light spectrum. The photocatalytic properties of the products were estimated by the photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. The photodegradation rate of Ag/CTAB-TiO2was 3 times than pure TiO2. The regenerated photocatalyst was still stable after five cycling runs, and gave more than 85% degradation. © 2015, Chinese Ceramic Society. All right reserved.