A novel synthesis of Ti3+ self-doped Ag2O/TiO2 (p-n) nanoheteroj unctions for enhanced visible photocatalytic activity

Monodispersed Ti3+ self-doped Ag2O/TiO2 (p-n) nanoheterojunctions (SMTNs) have been synthesized via a simple hydrothermal combined with photoreductive Ag-loading method, in which simple controlling hydrolysis of Tetrabutyl Titanate (TBOT) in acetic acid (HAc) and then followed by photoreduction of silver nanoparticles attached on TiO2 using AgNO3 as Ag source. The physical and chemical properties of SMTNs were observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The visible light-driven photocatalytic activity of SMTNs was measured by photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution. The results showed that the SMTNs exhibited a better photocatalytic activity than that of TiO2 Ns (pure TiO2 nanospheres). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.