Synthesis and visible light photocatalytic activity of Ag spot-coated TiO2–60 wt% SrO composite powders

Abstract

Nano-sized TiO2–60 wt% SrO composite powders were synthesized from titanium isopropoxide and Sr(OH)2·8H2O by use of a sol–gel method. Ag spot-coated TiO2–60 wt% SrO composite powders containing 3, 5, or 7 wt% Ag were synthesized by hydrothermal-assisted attachment, by use of Ag hydrosol in a high-pressure bomb at 250 °C and 450 psi. Nano-sized Ag particles approximately 5–25 nm in diameter adhered to the TiO2–60 wt% SrO2 composite powders. The photocatalytic activity of Ag spot-coated TiO2–SrO powders in the degradation of phenol showed that all were highly active when irradiated with UV light. TiO2–60 wt% SrO composite powder spot-coated with 5 wt% Ag was more photocatalytically active under visible light than TiO2–SrO composite powder.