title: Facile fabrication and photocatalytic application of Ag nanoparticles-TiO2 nanofiber composites.
abstract: A novel chemical method has been developed for the fabrication of Ag nanoparticles-coated TiO2 nanofiber composites. The method involves dispersion of TiO2 nanofibers in silver salt solution under ultrasonication, followed by addition of sodium citrate as a reducing agent. The Ag-coated TiO2 composites were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under UV-light irradiation. It was found that the heterogeneous Ag-TiO2 composite showed a higher activity than the pure TiO2 nanofiber; the enhanced activity can be attributed to the excellent distribution and interaction of Ag nanoparticles with the TiO2 nanofiber support. A plausible mechanism for the formation of the Ag-coated TiO2 composite and reasons for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology, KSP Bldg. East 412 3-2-1 Sakado, Takstsu-Ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Kakarla Raghava
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: Taketoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tryk
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujishima
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000528:radiation effects; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; C009495:titanium dioxide; D012834:Silver; D014025:Titanium