Mesoporous Ag Research Articles

Aerosol-assisted sol–gel synthesis of mesoporous Ag–Ta–SiO2catalysts for the direct upgrading of ethanol to butadiene

A sol–gel synthesis is coupled to spray-drying to obtain bifunctional mesoporous Ag–Ta–SiO2catalysts. Highly dispersed Ta species and small Ag nanoparticles lead to high activity in the cascade upgrading of ethanol to butadiene.

Synthesis of Mesoporous Ag2O/SnO2 Nanospheres for Selective Sensing of Formaldehyde at a Low Working Temperature.

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a prevalent indoor gas pollutant that has been seriously endangering human health. Developing semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) gas sensors for selective measurement of formaldehyde at low working temperatures remains a great challenge. In this work, silver/tin-polyphenol hybrid spheres are applied as a sacrificial template for the fabrication of spherical mesoporous Ag2O/SnO2 sensing materials. The obtained mesoporous Ag2O/SnO2 spheres have a uniform particle size (∼80 nm), large pore size (5.8 nm), and high specific surface area (71.3 m2 g-1). The response is 140 toward formaldehyde (10 ppm) at a low working temperature (75 °C). The detection limit reaches a low level of 23.6 ppb. Most importantly, it has excellent selectivity toward interfering gases. When the concentration of the interfering gas (e.g., ethanol) is 5 times as high as that of formaldehyde, the response is little affected. Theoretical calculations suggest that the addition of Ag2O can significantly enhance the adsorption energy toward formaldehyde, thus improving formaldehyde sensing performance. This work demonstrates an efficient self-template synthesis strategy for noble metal catalyst-decorated mesoporous metal oxide spheres, which could boost gas sensing performance at a lower working temperature.

Mesoporous Ag–TiO2 based nanocage like structure as sensitive and recyclable low-cost SERS substrate for biosensing applications

We fabricated a porous Ag–TiO2 film with a nanocage (NC) like structure as a sensitive, recyclable, and low-cost SERS substrate using facile methods. The developed nanocage structure of TiO2 film was first coated on a glass plate by doctor-blade method, and then thin film of silver with an optimum thickness of 10 nm was deposited onto it using thermal evaporation method. The unique mesoporous cage-like structure of TiO2 film leads to the exceptional and non-uniform growth of Ag film. The developed Ag nanostructure is also porous, caps spherical in shape, and the average separation between two consecutive nanostructures is 10 nm. These closely decorated nanostructures of Ag produce hotspots by localising the incident electric field within the minimal volume. The unique nanocage structure of TiO2 film provides a larger effective surface area of adsorption to the analytes. Thus, the synergistic effects of Ag–TiO2 NC structure exhibit significant enhancement of 108 considering rhodamine-6g (R6G) molecule as a probe using a portable handheld Raman spectrometer. The amount of electromagnetic enhancement was further investigated by 3D FDTD simulation that matches well with the experiments. The recyclability of the developed SERS substrate was explored by placing the SERS substrate under UV illumination for 130 min. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag–TiO2 NC SERS film degrades the dye molecules under UV radiation multiple times successively. Further, the Ag–TiO2 SERS substrate is highly sensitive to detect various concentrations of urea up to 1 mM covering the vital range of blood urea level. Thus, the optimised, low-cost, reusable SERS substrate can be used as level free biosensors for routine analysis of biomolecules in clinical applications.

A highly sensitive SERS substrate based on a mesoporous Ag–TiO2 thin film for the detection of dye molecules

Role of wavelength of excitation lasers for maximum Raman signal enhancement.

Facile synthesis of visible-light-induced mesoporous Ag2O/Fe2(MoO4)3 photocatalysts for degradation of tetracycline

Herein, a novel green procedure design, based on a simple sol-gel route with the occurrence of nonionic surfactant, was performed to obtain mesoporous Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 nanocomposites for tetracycline (TC) photodegradation through visible-light illumination. The obtained Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 possesses a 2D mesoporous providing a larger surface area than the bulk material traditionally prepared. Ag 2 O NPs with a particle size of 3 nm are uniformly dispersed in spherical shape onto mesoporous Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 surface. The photocatalytic performance over 1.5% Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 nanocomposite was achieved about 100% with 9.48 μmolg −1 min −1 degradation rate due to its intense harvest in the wide visible range, large surface area and synergistic characteristic between Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 and Ag 2 O NPs. In addition, the rate constant value of 1.5% Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 nanocomposite was enhanced 13.4 and 8.5 larger than that P-25 and Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 for degradation of TC. The possible mechanism over Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 for photodegradation of TC was also addressed. Moreover, the prepared Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 exhibited excellent stability and superior recyclability. • Mesoporous Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 was synthesized by a simple sol-gel route. • The photocatalytic efficiency over 1.5% Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 nanocomposite was ~100%. • 1.5% Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 nanocomposite was enhanced 8.5 larger than that Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3. • Ag 2 O/Fe 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 exhibited high stability and durability for five cycles.

Synthesis of porous silicon based nanoparticles for applications in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

In this work porous Si (PSi) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by magnesiothermic reduction of the synthesized SiO2 spheres, and Ag NPs were deposited on the PSi with formaldehyde or HF. In addition, silver NPs were deposited on the porous Si obtained by milling and etching the Si wafer. Silver NPs on SiO2 spheres and particles with Ag core and mesoporous SiO2 shell were also synthesized. SEM analysis showed the Ag NPs size distributions between 30.1 and 64.3 nm. The synthesized samples were quite stable in aqueous media and had zeta potential between −11.5 and −44.3 mV. The samples exhibited reversible physisorption isotherms of type II except for the sample with Ag core and SiO2 (Ag–S) coating, which exhibited a type IVa isotherm accompanied by the hysteresis characteristic of mesoporous adsorbents. The BET surface areas of the samples ranged from 9 to 56 m2g-1, with the mesoporous Ag–S sample having the largest surface area of 378 m2g-1. The surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) performance of the synthesized samples was studied by analysing the detection limit of 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA) as a probe molecule at 532 nm laser excitation. The lowest limit of detection of 1 × 10−5 mol dm−3 was obtained with the sample in which silver NPs were deposited on silica spheres (S–Ag).

Visible-light-driven S-scheme mesoporous Ag3VO4 /C3N4 heterojunction with promoted photocatalytic performances

• Mesoporous Ag 3 VO 4 /C 3 N 4 heterojunction photocatalysts was performed via a sol–gel. • The Hg(II) reduction was completely achieved within 60 min through illumination. • 2.4%Ag 3 VO 4 /C 3 N 4 photocatalyst indicated much better photoreduction performance. • It was 4.3 and 5.4 fold larger Hg(II) reduction than that Ag 3 VO 4 NPs and g-C 3 N 4 . • Mesoporous Ag 3 VO 4 /C 3 N 4 showed high stability and recyclability for five times runs. A facile and highly efficient mesoporous Ag 3 VO 4 /C 3 N 4 heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized by accommodating Ag 3 VO 4 nanoparticles (NPs) onto the porous g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets. The findings showed that mesoporous Ag 3 VO 4 NPs uniformly disseminated onto the g-C 3 N 4 with a small particle size (5 nm). Compared to pristine g-C 3 N 4 and Ag 3 VO 4 NPs, the mesoporous Ag 3 VO 4 /C 3 N 4 photocatalysts displayed much higher photocatalytic Hg(II) reduction. It was found that among all the synthesized nanocomposites, the synthetic mesoporous 2.4%Ag 3 VO 4 /C 3 N 4 photocatalyst indicated much better photoreduction performance. The Hg(II) reduction was completely achieved within 60 min (100%) through illumination by visible light, which was 4.3 and 5.4 fold larger photocatalytic performance than that Ag 3 VO 4 NPs and g-C 3 N 4 , in that order. The enhancement Hg(II) reduction performance of mesoporous Ag 3 VO 4 /C 3 N 4 photocatalysts could be explained by a synergetic effect of S-scheme heterojunction structure with high surface area and promotion light harvest, suggesting to efficacious of the photoinduced charges separation. The recycling performance of the nanocomposites exhibited superior stability, durability and reusability. S-scheme charge transfer route accomplished of mesoporous Ag 3 VO 4 /C 3 N 4 with improved stronger redox ability and separation of photoinduced carriers. This research work clarifies an outstanding approach to promote a novel and facile S-scheme photocatalytic system to oxidize environmental contaminants and reduce toxic heavy metals.

Design, preparation, and characterization of CS/PVA/SA hydrogels modified with mesoporous Ag2O/SiO2 and curcumin nanoparticles for green, biocompatible, and antibacterial biopolymer film.

One of the most significant factors affecting the rapid and effective healing of wounds is the application of appropriate wound dressings. In the present study, novel antibacterial wound dressings are fabricated that consist of Chitosan (CS)/Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Sodium Alginate (SA), which are all biocompatible, functionalized with mesoporous Ag2O/SiO2 and curcumin nanoparticles as reinforcements. In this research nanocomposites are fabricated (0 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt% of Ag2O/SiO2). After the composition of nanocomposites using the cross-linked technique, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is performed to confirm the functional groups that are added to the polymer at each step. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is done to show the crystallinity of Ag2O/SiO2. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) studies are performed to demonstrate the morphology of the structure, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is done to examine the elements in the wound dressing and atomic force microscopy (AFM) study is performed to show surface roughness and pores. Then the nanocomposites with different weight percentages are cultured in three bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Proteus mirabilis, all three of which cause skin infections. Finally, by performing the tensile test, the results related to the tensile strength of the wound dressings are examined. The results show that with the increase of Ag2O/SiO2, the mechanical properties, as well as the healing properties of the wound dressing, have increased significantly. Fabricating these nanocomposites helps a lot in treating skin infections.

Facile Synthesis of Mesoporous Ag Doped Titania Nanocomposite as Extraordinarily Effective Photo-Catalyst Beneath Vis Light

In this probe, mesoporous titania nanorods (MTR) were fabricated as a photo-catalyst beneath Vis light illumination. The photo-catalytic enactment of the MTR nanocomposite boosted via decoration with metallic Ag. Role of Ag in boosting various aspects (optoelectronic, optical, surface, structural and photo-catalytic performance) of fabricated Ag@MTR nanocomposite was also affirmed. Ag@MTR nanocomposite accommodating 3.0% wt. Ag possessed lower band gap (2.17 eV) compared to that of pure MTR nanocomposite (3.25 eV), and so the Ag-doped nanocomposite acquired upgraded Vis light absorption aspects. The photo-catalytic performance for the Ag doped MTR nanocomposite was tested via its capability to remediate ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic from aquatic medium. 1 h was enough for complete (100%) degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) via utilization of 2.4 g · L–1 Ag@MTR nanocomposite accommodating 3.0% wt. Ag. The boosted photo-catalytic efficacy of fabricated Ag@MTR nanocomposite was attributed to the enlarged charge carrier's separation beside the diminished electron–hole reconsolidation, as a result of surface plasmon resonance of Ag@MTR nanocomposite. In addition, the fabricated Ag@MTR nanocomposite exhibited great stability with distinguished recyclability after application up to five cycles. This investigation recommends the operation of Ag doped titania photo-catalyst for efficient remediation of pharmaceutical pollutants from aquatic environment.

Synthesis of One-Dimensional Mesoporous Ag Nanoparticles-Modified TiO2 Nanofibers by Electrospinning for Lithium Ion Batteries.

TiO2 is regarded as a prospective electrode material owing to its excellent electrochemical properties such as the excellent cycling stability and the high safety. However, its low capacity and low electronic conductivity greatly restrict the further improvement in electrochemical performance. A new strategy was put forward to solve the above defects involved in TiO2 in which the low capacity was enhanced by nanomerization and porosity of TiO2, and the low electronic conductivity was improved by introducing Ag with a high conductivity. One-dimensional mesoporous Ag nanoparticles-embedded TiO2 nanofibers (Ag@TiO2 nanofibers) were successfully synthesized via a one-step electrospinning process combined with subsequent annealing treatment in this study. The microstructure and morphology of mesoporous TiO2@Ag nanofibers were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. TiO2 nanofibers mainly consisted of a large amount of anatase TiO2, accompanied with traces of rutile TiO2. Ag nanoparticles were uniformly distributed throughout TiO2 nanofibers and promoted the transformation of TiO2 from the anatase to the rutile. The corresponding electrochemical performances are measured by galvanostatic charge-discharge, cycle stability, rate performance, cycle voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements in this research, with pristine TiO2 nanofibers as the reference. The results indicated that the introduction of Ag nanoparticles into TiO2 nanofibers significantly improved the diffusion coefficient of Li ions (5.42 × 10−9 cm2⋅s−1 for pristine TiO2, 1.96 × 10−8 cm2⋅s−1 for Ag@TiO2), and the electronic conductivity of TiO2 (1.69 × 10−5 S⋅cm−1 for pristine TiO2, and 1.99 × 10−5 S⋅cm−1 for Ag@TiO2), based on which the comprehensive electrochemical performance were greatly enhanced. The coulombic efficiency of the Ag@TiO2 nanofibers electrode at the first three cycles was about 56%, 93%, and 96%, which was higher than that without Ag (48%, 66%, and 79%). The Ag@TiO2 nanofibers electrode exhibited a higher specific discharge capacity of about 128.23 mAh⋅g−1 when compared with that without Ag (72.76 mAh·g−1) after 100 cycles at 100 mA·g−1. With the current density sharply increased from 40 mA·g−1 to 1000 mA·g−1, the higher average discharge capacity of 56.35 mAh·g−1 was remained in the electrode with Ag, when compared with the electrode without Ag (average discharge capacity of about 12.14 mAh·g−1). When the current density was returned to 40 mA·g−1, 80.36% of the initial value was returned (about 162.25 mAh·g−1) in the electrode with Ag, which was evidently superior to that without Ag (about 86.50 mAh·g−1, only 55.42% of the initial value). One-dimensional mesoporous Ag@TiO2 nanofibers can be regarded as a potential and promising candidate as anode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Ordered mesoporous silver superstructures with SERS hot spots.

We have developed a method to fabricate freestanding highly ordered porous silver (Ag) superstructures by an "assembly-based nanoparticle (NP) coalescence" method. The synthesized superstructures have high-density mesopores periodically distributed over the entire structure, on which a highly enhanced electromagnetic field was observed by electron energy loss spectroscopy. Thus, the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal of Rhodamine 6G in the ordered mesopores is 8.2 times higher compared to that in disordered porous superstructures. The results demonstrate that these freestanding mesoporous Ag superstructures are potentially good SERS substrates.

Antibacterial and structural properties of mesoporous Ag doped calcium borosilicate glass-ceramics synthesized via a sol-gel route

Structural, electrical, bioactivity and antibacterial properties of mesoporous Ag doped calcium borosilicate glass-ceramics are reported. A simple sol-gel route was used to synthesize the mesoporous glass-ceramics. N2 adsorption–desorption studies reveal the mesoporous structure of the samples. The embedment of nano-sized Ag metallic particles in glass matrix was confirmed for Ag doped sample calcined at 600 °C by X-ray diffraction, UV–visible, and transmission electron microscopic analyses. Ac conductivity is used to study the electrical relaxation processes. Ag nanoparticle-embedded sample reveal nearly constant loss behaviour, whereas silver ions alone embedded sample show universal dielectric relaxation behaviour. Ag doped samples exhibit good antibacterial properties without compromising the bone-like apatite layer formation. The antibacterial effect against Gram negative bacteria is higher for Ag doped sample calcined at 600 °C which exhibits a dominant nearly constant dielectric loss feature.

Mesoporous Ag nanocubes synthesized via selectively oxidative etching at room temperature for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Silver nanocubes enriched with 100 facets have been extensively used for surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Herein, we report a new water-phase synthesis method for well-defined Ag nanocubes with tunable sizes via a two-step procedure at room temperature. First, irregularly shaped Ag nanoparticles (INPs) were prepared by reducing silver ammonia solution using ethylal. Second, the agglomerated INPs were selectively etched with HNO3 and Cl− to yield 100 facet-rich mesoporous Ag nanocubes. The mechanism of Ag-nanocube formation and growth was investigated in detail by elucidating the involved chemical reactions and physical changes at each step during the synthesis. The addition of Cl− anions was responsible for facilitating Ag nanoparticle growth by removing surface-adsorbed AgCl+ species, thereby eliminating inter-particle repulsive forces. This agglomeration was found crucial for the subsequent selective oxidation of Ag nanoparticles because the protective agent used, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), was the most effective one for adsorption on the surfaces of Ag nanoparticles of size greater than approximately 50 nm. Importantly, mesopores were found inside the Ag nanocubes; this can be attributed to the unavoidable imperfect packing during the agglomeration of INPs. The newly prepared Ag nanocubes were further used to enhance the Raman signal of rhodamine 6G, which is capable of reducing the detection limitation to 10−16 mol·L−1.

An ordered mesoporous Ag superstructure synthesized via a template strategy for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with high density and uniformity of nanogaps are proven to enhance the reproducibility and sensitivity of the Raman signal. Up to now, the syntheses of a highly ordered gold or silver superstructure with a controllable nanoparticle size and a well-defined particle gap have been quite limited. Here, we reported an ordered mesoporous silver superstructure replicated by using ordered mesoporous KIT-6 and SAB-15 as templates. By means of a nanocasting process, the ordered mesoporous Ag superstructure was successfully synthesized, which shows uniform distribution of the nanowire diameter (10 nm) and nanogap size (∼2 nm), thus exhibiting a high Raman enhancement of ∼10(9). The finite difference time-domain (FDTD) results indicate that the ordered mesoporous Ag superstructure has a uniform distribution of hot spots. Therefore, the mesoporous silica template strategy presented here could lead to a new class of high quality SERS substrates providing extraordinary potential for diverse applications.

Ag–SiO2–TiO2 nanocomposite coatings with enhanced photoactivity for self-cleaning application on building materials

The synthesis of improved photocatalysts capable of removing pollutants deposited on building surfaces is an important challenge for researchers nowadays. By using a simple and low-cost process we have synthesized mesoporous Ag–TiO2–SiO2 photocatalytic coatings that meet the requirements of outdoor application. These are new materials designed to give to the building material improved self-cleaning properties.We have varied the loading of TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles in order to investigate their effect on the photocatalytic activity of our nanocomposites. We find that the integration of higher Ag loadings in a TiO2–SiO2 network (10% w/w) significantly increase the photoactivity of the coating containing 1% (w/v) TiO2 due to the improved absorption of visible light and higher surface area of the photocatalyst. For higher TiO2 contents (4%) there is an increase in photoactivity for 1% (w/v) Ag loading. Higher amounts of Ag loadings (5% w/w) generate an undesired color change on stone or inhibit the sol–gel transition of the coatings (10% w/w).

Changes in the Chemical and Structural Properties of Nanocomposite Ag:TiO2 Films during Photochromic Transitions

This study focuses on changes in the oxidation state of silver and in the crystalline phase of TiO2 occurring during the photochromic transitions of amorphous nanocomposite mesoporous Ag:TiO2 films exposed to ultraviolet and visible laser light. The chemical and phase transformations have been investigated by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The results bring to the fore the presence of both silver nanoparticles in face-centered cubic and hexagonal crystalline phases during the photochromic transitions and a large amount of oxidized silver nanoparticles after visible light exposure, along with nucleation of some TiO2 crystals despite the very low intensity used.

Ag plasmonic enhancement of visible-light photoelectrocatalytic activity for defect-sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays

We report the large-scale synthesis of monodisperse Ag nanoparticles and their homogeneous assembly into TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) for enhancing the visible-light photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) activity of the photoanodes. Electron beam irradiation reduction was used to synthesize monodisperse mesoporous Ag nanoparticles, composed of smaller nanocrystals, with the aid of PVP surfactant. Ag nanoparticles exhibit an absorption band centered at 410nm, originating from localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). To explore LSPR effects on the visible-light PEC performance of TNAs, we prepared defect-sensitized TNAs by anodic oxidization, followed by a poor-oxygen annealing treatment to induce a wide range of visible-light response owing to the incorporation of Ti3+ defects. A vacuum-assisted filling method was used to assemble Ag nanoparticles into the defect-sensitized TNAs. Compared with unfilled TNAs, a 2.5-fold enhancement in the visible-light PEC activity was observed in the composite photoanodes, which is attributed to LSPR-induced absorption enhancement in a wavelength range of 400–450nm, as well as to the effective suppression of the recombination of photoexcited electrons and holes through the Ag-TiO2 Shockley junction.

Single-step solvothermal synthesis of mesoporous Ag–TiO2–reduced graphene oxide ternary composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity

With growing interest in the photocatalytic performance of TiO2-graphene composite systems, the ternary phase of TiO2, graphene, and Ag is expected to exhibit improved photocatalytic characteristics because of the improved recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers and potential contribution of the generation of localized surface plasmon resonance at Ag sites on a surface of the TiO2-graphene binary matrix. In this work, Ag-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide ternary nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal process. In a single-step synthetic procedure, the reduction of AgNO3 and graphene oxide and the hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide were spontaneously performed in a mixed solvent system of ethylene glycol, N,N-dimethylformamide and a stoichiometric amount of water without resorting to the use of typical reducing agents. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, along with different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, enabling us to confirm the successful reduction of AgNO3 and graphite oxide to metallic Ag and reduced graphene oxide, respectively. Due to the highly facilitated electron transport of well distributed Ag nanoparticles, the synthesized ternary nanocomposite showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of rhodamine B dye under visible light irradiation.

Preparation of Mesoporous Ag–TiO<SUB>2</SUB> Thin Films by a Simple Photocatalytic Deposition Method and Their Application as Photocatalyst

Preparation of Mesoporous Ag–TiO<SUB>2</SUB> Thin Films by a Simple Photocatalytic Deposition Method and Their Application as Photocatalyst

Self-accumulated Ag nanoparticles on mesoporous TiO2 thin film with high bactericidal activities

Antibacterial activity of sol–gel synthesized Ag–TiO2 nanocomposite layer (30 nm) deposited on rough anatase (a) TiO2 thin film (∼ 200 nm in thickness) was investigated against Escherichia coli bacteria, in dark and also in exposure to UV light. The nanocomposite thin films were transparent with a surface plasmon resonance absorption band at a wavelength of 410 nm. The metallic silver nanoparticles with an average diameter of 30 nm and fcc crystalline structure were self-accumulated on surface of a mesoporous and aqueous TiO2 layer with a capillary pore structure having a pore radius of 3.0 nm. By adding the silver nanoparticles in the TiO2 layer, recombination of the photoexcited electron–hole pairs in the (a)TiO2 thin film was delayed, while the pore structure was unchanged. Decrease in the recombination rate and accumulation of the silver nanoparticles on the film surface let the mesoporous Ag–TiO2/(a)TiO2 nanocomposite thin films have excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli bacteria. It was found that the relative rate of reduction of the viable bacteria in dark (in exposure to the UV light) for the Ag–TiO2/(a)TiO2 nanocomposite thin film was 3.2 × 10–2 min–1 (26 × 10–2 min–1) which was 4.6 (2.0) times greater than the corresponding value for the (a)TiO2 thin film. The behavior of silver ion release showed that the dominant mechanism of the release process in long time was based on water diffusion through the capillary mesoporous of the TiO2 layer, unlike the usual diffusion of water on the surface of silver-based bulk materials. Therefore, the synthesized Ag–TiO2/(a)TiO2 nanocomposite thin film can be utilized as a promising and effective bactericidal material in the future.