Novel preparation method of nanosilver doped sol gel TiO2 photocatalysts for dye pollutant degradation

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology 2012-07, Vol.63 (1), p.108-115
• Main Authors: Padikkaparambil, Silija, Yaakob, Zahira, Narayanan, Binitha N., Ramakrishnan, Resmi, Viswanathan, Suraja
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anatase; Catalysis; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Composites; Degradation; Dyes; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Glass; Image transmission; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Photochemistry; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Pollutants; Silver; Sol-gel processes; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Titanium dioxide; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-012-2772-0

In the present study, a novel method for the silver nanoparticle incorporation into TiO 2 sol is reported which provides efficient dispersion of inserted metal in the calcined gel. Glucose mediated metal nanoparticle synthesis eliminates the additional steps for the introduction of dopant over the support. Ag nanoparticle acts as competent trapping centers preventing the recombination of electron–hole pairs. Thus, in spite of the low UV intensity present in the sunlight, considerable enhancement in the catalytic efficiency was observed for the degradation of dye pollutants over nanosilver loaded TiO 2 . Transmission electron microscopic images display the well isolated nanoparticles of silver having uniform dimensions of less than 5 nm over the best system, 2 wt% nanosilver loaded TiO 2 , which is accountable for its effectiveness as a photocatalyst. Anatase is found to be the photocatalytic active phase, as evident from the X-ray diffraction studies.