Synthesis and characterization of Ag doped TiO 2 heterojunction films and their photocatalytic performances


DEMİRCİ S., DİKİCİ T., YURDDAŞKAL M., Gultekin S., Toparli M., Celik E.

Applied Surface Science, vol.390, pp.591-601, 2016 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 390
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.08.145
  • Journal Name: Applied Surface Science
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.591-601
  • Keywords: Titanium dioxide, Silver, Photocatalytic activity, Methylene blue (MB), Hydrophilicity
  • Manisa Celal Bayar University Affiliated: No

Abstract

In this study, undoped and silver (Ag) doped titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) films were successfully synthesized by sol-gel spin coating technique on the Si substrates. Photocatalytic activities of the TiO 2 films with different Ag content were investigated for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV light irradiation. The crystal phase structure, surface morphology, chemical and optical properties of Ag-doped TiO 2 films were characterized using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis spectrophotometer, and FTIR spectrophotometer. The results showed that the Ag-doped TiO 2 films calcined at 500 °C had the crystalline anatase phases and the surface morphologies with some cracks. Ag substitution into TiO 2 matrix enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 films under UV light irradiation as compared to the undoped TiO 2 film. Furthermore, the results indicated that the 0.7% Ag doped TiO 2 film exhibited a superior photocatalytic activity than that of undoped and other Ag-doped TiO 2 films. This study demonstrated the potential of an application of Ag doped films to efficiently treat dissolved organic contaminants in water.