Effects of deposition of different contents of Ag nanoparticles on thickness and structural, morphological, compositional, optical, and photocatalytic properties of 1D TiO2 nanoarrays

Abstract

One-dimensional (1D) TiO2 nanoarrays (NAs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal process, and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on the arrays using a photodeposition technique. The content of Ag NPs was changed by altering the photodeposition time to 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. The influence of the content of Ag NPs on the structural, morphological, compositional, optical, and photocatalytic properties of 1D TiO2 NAs was systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that 1D TiO2 NAs showed improved visible light absorption and enhanced photocatalytic properties after deposition of Ag NPs. Compared with bare TiO2 NAs, the TiO2 NAs after deposition of Ag NPs for 15 min showed the best optical and photoelectrochemical properties, and photodegradation efficiency (98.8 %).