Preparation, characterization and visible light photocatalytic activity of silver, nitrogen co-doped TiO₂ photocatalyst

Abstract

TiO2 photocatalyst codoped with Silver (Ag) and Nitrogen (N) with different Ag doping concentrations is successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized samples are characterized through x-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis. absorption spectra and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic response is evaluated by the photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiations. All synthesized samples are composed of pure anatase phase with good crystallinity. The absorption edge of codoped TiO2 is shifted towards visible light region. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the existence of silver and nitrogen in the codoped samples. All the codoped samples demonstrated improved photocatalytic activity compared to pure TiO2. Among the different codoped samples, the one with silver doping concentration of 4 at. % exhibited the highest photoactivity.