Recently, intensive research efforts have been focused on the utilization of the visible light portion of the solar spectrum to activate TiO2 photocatalysts for environmental applications, such as water cleaning, air purification and soil remediation. Noble metal deposition can modify the surface adsorption properties of the photocatalyst, enhance the electron-hole separation and shift the light absorption into the visible, thus reducing recombination and extending its photoresponse to solar illumination. In this study, UV-vis light-activated, Ag-decorated monodisperse TiO2 (TiO2-Ag) nanoparticles were synthesized by an innovative sol-gel method. The structure of monodisperse TiO2 was controlled by the ionic strength of the solution and metallic Ag was produced by chemical reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) in methanol. For the characterization of the silver-modified titania (TiO2-Ag), X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, scanning electron microscopy, and porosimetry analysis were employed. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2-Ag was evaluated for the degradation of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) and other antibiotics, under UV-vis irradiation. Thus, the present work highlights the most important results on the synthesis, characterization and the evaluation of photocatalytic activity of the Ag-decorated monodisperse TiO2 nanoparticles.

UV-vis light-activated, Ag-decorated monodisperse TiO<sub>2</sub> for treatment of antibiotics in water

245th National Meeting (2013)

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UV-vis light-activated, Ag-decorated monodisperse TiO2 for treatment of antibiotics in water

UV-vis light-activated, Ag-decorated monodisperse TiO₂ for treatment of antibiotics in water