Preparation and enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of N-doped titanate nanotubes by loaded with Ag for the degradation of X-3B

Abstract

N-doped Titanate nanotubes (NTNTs) loaded with Ag (Ag-NTNTs) in order to improve photocatalytic activity of NTNTs under visible light irradiation were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal technique combined with photochemical reduction process. The physical and chemical properties of the prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS). XPS analysis indicated Ag species existed as metallic Ag and N atoms could incorporate into the lattice of titania by substituting the sites of oxygen atoms. UV–vis spectra indicated the remarkable red shift of absorption edge to the visible light region for Ag-NTNTs. The visible light photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated for the degradation of dye Reactive Brilliant Red X-3B (C.I. reactive red 2). It was found that the photocatalytic activities exhibited by Ag-NTNTs were higher than that of N-doped sample under visible light irradiation. The interaction between N species and metallic Ag may be responsible for the higher visible light photocatalytic activity.