Highly ordered Ag--TiO<sub>2</sub> nanocomposited arrays with high visible-light photocatalytic activity

doi:10.1007/s11706-017-0386-8

Front. Mater. Sci.

2017, Vol. 11

Issue (3) : 241-249 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-017-0386-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Highly ordered Ag--TiO₂ nanocomposited arrays with high visible-light photocatalytic activity

Cong ZHAO¹, Da-chuan ZHU², Xiao-yao CHENG¹, Shi-xiu CAO¹(

)

¹. Research Institute for New Materials Technology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China
². College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China

Download: PDF(420 KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract

TiO₂ is active only in the ultraviolet region. To enhance the active ability, a combined method consisting of the anodic oxidation method and the hydrothermal method was developed to prepare highly ordered Ag–TiO₂ nanocomposited arrays. The anodic oxidation was used to synthesize amorphous nanotubes with high chemical activity that subsequently served as highly ordered templates in preparing the final sample. The amorphous nanotubes got converted to highly ordered Ag–TiO₂ (anatase) arrays in the silver nitrate & glucose aqueous solution via hydrothermal treatment. SEM and TEM results show that the Ag–TiO₂ nanocomposite was composed of a large number of Ag nanoparticles and anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles, and the morphology of those at the top of the arrays was found different from that of its trunk. The morphology evolution mechanism of the obtained sample was discussed. It is also revealed that the Ag–TiO₂ nanocomposite has high visible-light photocatalytic activity.

Keywords TiO₂ nanoparticles silver heterojunction

Corresponding Author(s): Shi-xiu CAO

Online First Date: 27 June 2017 Issue Date: 24 August 2017

Cite this article:

Cong ZHAO,Da-chuan ZHU,Xiao-yao CHENG, et al. Highly ordered Ag--TiO₂ nanocomposited arrays with high visible-light photocatalytic activity[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2017, 11(3): 241-249.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-017-0386-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2017/V11/I3/241

Fig.1 (a)(b) SEM images, (c) XRD pattern and (d) TEM image of the obtained Ag-TiO₂ nanocomposite.

Fig.2 SEM images of (a) side arrays, (b) top arrays, (c)(d) sectional arrays, and (e)(f) a single Ag?TiO₂ nanocomposite. (g) TEM image of a single Ag?TiO₂ nanocomposite. (h) HRTEM image of a partial single Ag?TiO₂ nanocomposite.

Fig.3 A scheme illustrating the formation of Ag–TiO₂ nanocomposited arrays from amorphous TNTs upon the silver nitrate & glucose aqueous solution soaking.

Fig.4 (a) UV-vis absorbance spectra of Degussa P25 (black color curve), TNTs (blue color curve) and Ag–TiO₂ nanocomposites (red color curve). (b) A photograph of Ag–TiO₂ nanocomposites dispersed in aqueous solution.

Fig.5 Photocatalytic degradation of RhB under the blue light (400–500 nm) irradiation.

Fig.6 The illustration of the Ag?TiO₂ nanocomposite. Insert: Schematic of energy band diagram and enhanced photocatalytic reaction in Ag?TiO₂ nanocomposite by LSPR effect under the visible-light irradiation.

1	Yin H, Wada Y, Kitamura T, et al.. Hydrothermal synthesis of nanosized anatase and rutile TiO2 using amorphous phase TiO2. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2001, 11(6): 1694–1703 https://doi.org/10.1039/b008974p
2	Lapides A M, Ashford D L, Hanson K, et al.. Stabilization of a ruthenium(II) polypyridyl dye on nanocrystalline TiO2 by an electropolymerized overlayer. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2013, 135(41): 15450–15458 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja4055977 pmid: 24099001
3	Durupthy O, Bill J, Aldinger F. Bioinspired synthesis of crystalline TiO2: effect of amino acids on nanoparticles structure and shape. Crystal Growth & Design, 2007, 7(12): 2696–2704 https://doi.org/10.1021/cg060405g
4	Nguyen C K, Cha H G, Kang Y S. Axis-oriented, anatase TiO2 single crystals with dominant 001 and 100 facets. Crystal Growth & Design, 2011, 11(9): 3947–3953 https://doi.org/10.1021/cg200815t
5	Tong H, Ouyang S, Bi Y, et al.. Nano-photocatalytic materials: possibilities and challenges. Advanced Materials, 2012, 24(2): 229–251 https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201102752 pmid: 21972044
6	Reyes-Coronado D, Rodríguez-Gattorno G, Espinosa-Pesqueira M E, et al.. Phase-pure TiO2 nanoparticles: anatase, brookite and rutile. Nanotechnology, 2008, 19(14): 145605 https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/19/14/145605 pmid: 21817764
7	Peng Y, Huang G, Huang W. Visible-light absorption and photocatalytic activity of Cr-doped TiO2 nanocrystal films. Advanced Powder Technology, 2012, 23(1): 8–12 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2010.11.006
8	Waterhouse G I N, Wahab A K, Al-Oufi M, et al.. Hydrogen production by tuning the photonic band gap with the electronic band gap of TiO2. Scientific Reports, 2013, 3: 2849 (5 pages) doi:10.1038/srep02849
9	Kisch H. Semiconductor photocatalysis — mechanistic and synthetic aspects. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2013, 52(3): 812–847 https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201201200 pmid: 23212748
10	Chen X, Burda C. The electronic origin of the visible-light absorption properties of C-, N- and S-doped TiO2 nanomaterials. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2008, 130(15): 5018–5019 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja711023z pmid: 18361492
11	De Trizio L, Buonsanti R, Schimpf A M, et al.. Nb-doped colloidal TiO2 nanocrystals with tunable infrared absorption. Chemistry of Materials, 2013, 25(16): 3383–3390 https://doi.org/10.1021/cm402396c
12	Sacco O, Vaiano V, Han C, et al.. Photocatalytic removal of atrazine using N-doped TiO2 supported on phosphors. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2015, 164: 462–474 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2014.09.062
13	Spadavecchia F, Cappelletti G, Ardizzone S, et al.. Solar photoactivity of nano-N-TiO2 from tertiary amine: role of defects and paramagnetic species. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2010, 96(3‒4): 314–322 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2010.02.027
14	Lee W J, Lee J M, Kochuveedu S T, et al.. Biomineralized N-doped CNT/TiO2 core/shell nanowires for visible light photocatalysis. ACS Nano, 2012, 6(1): 935–943 https://doi.org/10.1021/nn204504h pmid: 22195985
15	Lee H U, Lee G, Park J C, et al.. Efficient visible-light responsive TiO2 nanoparticles incorporated magnetic carbon photocatalysts. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2014, 240: 91–98 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2013.11.054
16	Wu F, Hu X, Fan J, et al.. Photocatalytic activity of Ag/TiO2 nanotube arrays enhanced by surface plasmon resonance and application in hydrogen evolution by water splitting. Plasmonics, 2013, 8(2): 501–508 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-012-9418-5
17	Liang Y, Wang C, Kei C, et al.. Photocatalysis of Ag-loaded TiO2 nanotube arrays formed by atomic layer deposition. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2011, 115(19): 9498–9502 https://doi.org/10.1021/jp202111p
18	Jiang Y, Zheng B, Du J, et al.. Electrophoresis deposition of Ag nanoparticles on TiO2 nanotube arrays electrode for hydrogen peroxide sensing. Talanta, 2013, 112(15): 129–135 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2013.03.015 pmid: 23708548
19	Yang C, Balakrishnan N, Bhethanabotla V R, et al.. Interplay between subnanometer Ag and Pt clusters and anatase TiO2 (101) surface: Implications for catalysis and photocatalysis. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2014, 118(9): 4702–4714 https://doi.org/10.1021/jp4112525
20	Tanaka A, Hashimoto K, Kominami H. Visible-light-induced hydrogen and oxygen formation over Pt/Au/WO3 photocatalyst utilizing two types of photoabsorption due to surface plasmon resonance and band-gap excitation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2014, 136(2): 586–589 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja410230u pmid: 24386964
21	Long R, Prezhdo O V. Instantaneous generation of charge-separated state on TiO2 surface sensitized with plasmonic nanoparticles. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2014, 136(11): 4343–4354 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja5001592 pmid: 24568726
22	Huang Z A, Sun Q, Lv K, et al.. Effect of contact interface between TiO2 and g-C3N4 on the photoreactivity of g-C3N4/TiO2 photocatalyst: (001) vs (101) facets of TiO2. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2015, 164: 420–427 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2014.09.043
23	Wu L, Li F, Xu Y, et al.. Plasmon-induced photoelectrocatalytic activity of Au nanoparticles enhanced TiO2 nanotube arrays electrodes for environmental remediation. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2015, 164: 217–224 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2014.09.029
24	Shi L, Liang L, Ma J, et al.. Enhanced photocatalytic activity over the Ag2O–g-C3N4 composite under visible light. Catalysis Science & Technology, 2014, 4(3): 758 https://doi.org/10.1039/c3cy00871a
25	Zhou W, Liu H, Wang J, et al.. Ag2O/TiO2 nanobelts heterostructure with enhanced ultraviolet and visible photocatalytic activity. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2010, 2(8): 2385–2392 https://doi.org/10.1021/am100394x pmid: 20735112
26	Sarkar D, Ghosh C K, Mukherjee S, et al.. Three dimensional Ag2O/TiO2 type-II (p–n) nanoheterojunctions for superior photocatalytic activity. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2013, 5(2): 331–337 https://doi.org/10.1021/am302136y pmid: 23245288
27	Wang Y, Zhang Y N, Zhao G, et al.. Design of a novel Cu2O/TiO2/carbon aerogel electrode and its efficient electrosorption-assisted visible light photocatalytic degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2012, 4(8): 3965–3972 https://doi.org/10.1021/am300795w pmid: 22780307
28	Liao Y, Que W, Zhong P, et al.. A facile method to crystallize amorphous anodized TiO2 nanotubes at low temperature. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2011, 3(7): 2800–2804 https://doi.org/10.1021/am200685s pmid: 21675751
29	Huo K, Wang H, Zhang X, et al.. Heterostructured TiO2 nanoparticles/nanotube arrays: in situ formation from amorphous TiO2 nanotube arrays in water and enhanced photocatalytic activity. ChemPlusChem, 2012, 77(4): 323–329 https://doi.org/10.1002/cplu.201200024
30	Zhao C, Zhu D, Cao S. Amorphous TiO2 nanotube-derived synthesis of highly ordered anatase TiO2 nanorod arrays. Superlattices and Microstructures, 2016, 90: 257–264 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spmi.2015.12.037
31	Wang D, Liu L, Zhang F, et al.. Spontaneous phase and morphology transformations of anodized titania nanotubes induced by water at room temperature. Nano Letters, 2011, 11(9): 3649–3655 https://doi.org/10.1021/nl2015262 pmid: 21786788
32	Sun X M, Li Y D. Ag@C core/shell structured nanoparticles: controlled synthesis, characterization, and assembly. Langmuir, 2005, 21(13): 6019‒6024 https://doi.org/10.1021/la050193+
33	Spanhel L, Weller H, Henglein A. Photochemistry of semiconductor colloids. 22. Electron ejection from illuminated cadmium sulfide into attached titanium and zinc oxide particles. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1987, 109(22): 6632–6635 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00256a012
34	Wang M, Sun L, Lin Z, et al.. p–n Heterojunction photoelectrodes composed of Cu2O-loaded TiO2 nanotube arrays with enhanced photoelectrochemical and photoelectrocatalytic activities. Energy & Environmental Science, 2013, 6(4): 1211–1220 https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ee24162a
35	Scanlon D O, Dunnill C W, Buckeridge J, et al.. Band alignment of rutile and anatase TiO2. Nature Materials, 2013, 12(9): 798–801 https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3697 pmid: 23832124
36	Zhao C, Shu X, Zhu D C, et al.. High visible light photocatalytic property of Co2+-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with mixed phases. Superlattices and Microstructures, 2015, 88: 32–42

[1]	Tanya NANDA, Ankita RATHORE, Deepika SHARMA. Biomineralized and chemically synthesized magnetic nanoparticles: A contrast[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(4): 387-401.
[2]	Yimin ZHOU, Qingni XU, Chaohua LI, Yuqi CHEN, Yueli ZHANG, Bo LU. Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles as nanocarriers employed in cancer therapy: A review[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(4): 373-386.
[3]	Qizhi TIAN, Yajun JI, Yiyi QIAN, Abulikemu ABULIZI. Synthesis of defect-rich hierarchical sponge-like TiO₂ nanoparticles and their improved photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performance[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(3): 286-295.
[4]	Yuming CHEN, Wenhao TANG, Jingru MA, Ben GE, Xiangliang WANG, Yufen WANG, Pengfei REN, Ruiping LIU. Nickel-decorated TiO₂ nanotube arrays as a self-supporting cathode for lithium--sulfur batteries[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(3): 266-274.
[5]	Zhenxiao LU, Wenxian WANG, Jun ZHOU, Zhongchao BAI. FeS₂@C nanorods embedded in three-dimensional graphene as high-performance anode for sodium-ion batteries[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(3): 255-265.
[6]	Zhiyu ZHANG, Lixia HU, Hui ZHANG, Liping YU, Yunxiao LIANG. Large-sized nano-TiO₂/SiO₂ mesoporous nanofilm-constructed macroporous photocatalysts with excellent photocatalytic performance[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(2): 163-176.
[7]	Xin LIU, Xiangling REN, Longfei TAN, Wenna GUO, Zhongbing HUANG, Xianwei MENG. Preparation and enhanced properties of ZrMOF@CdTe nanoparticles with high-density quantum dots[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(2): 155-162.
[8]	Pengfei ZHU, Zhihao REN, Ruoxu WANG, Ming DUAN, Lisi XIE, Jing XU, Yujing TIAN. Preparation and visible photocatalytic dye degradation of Mn-TiO₂/sepiolite photocatalysts[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(1): 33-42.
[9]	Zhihong JING, Xiue LIU, Yan DU, Yuanchun HE, Tingjiang YAN, Wenliang WANG, Wenjuan LI. Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and photocatalytic performance of Ag/AgI/TiO₂ hollow sphere composites[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2020, 14(1): 1-13.
[10]	Elias ASSAYEHEGN, Ananthakumar SOLAIAPPAN, Yonas CHEBUDIE, Esayas ALEMAYEHU. Influence of temperature on preparing mesoporous mixed phase N/TiO₂ nanocomposite with enhanced solar light photocatalytic activity[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(4): 352-366.
[11]	Liuxin YANG, Zhou CHEN, Jian ZHANG, Chang-An WANG. SrTiO₃/TiO₂ heterostructure nanowires with enhanced electron--hole separation for efficient photocatalytic activity[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(4): 342-351.
[12]	Weiwei FAN, Jilu WANG, Jiajun FENG, Yong WANG. Facile preparation of acid/CO₂ stimuli-responsive sheddable nanoparticles based on carboxymethylated chitosan[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(3): 296-304.
[13]	Pengcheng WU, Chang LIU, Yan LUO, Keliang WU, Jianning WU, Xuhong GUO, Juan HOU, Zhiyong LIU. A novel black TiO₂/ZnO nanocone arrays heterojunction on carbon cloth for highly efficient photoelectrochemical performance[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2019, 13(1): 43-53.
[14]	Zhongchi WANG, Gongsheng SONG, Jianle XU, Qiang FU, Chunxu PAN. Electrospun titania fibers by incorporating graphene/Ag hybrids for the improved visible-light photocatalysis[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2018, 12(4): 379-391.
[15]	Ruirui LIU, Zhijiang JI, Jing WANG, Jinjun ZHANG. Mesocrystalline TiO₂/sepiolite composites for the effective degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2018, 12(3): 292-303.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed