Ultrasound aided photochemical synthesis of Ag loaded TiO2 nanotube arrays to enhance photocatalytic activity.

This work presents a novel approach for preparing TiO(2) nanotube array photocatalyst loaded with highly dispersed Ag nanoparticles through an ultrasound aided photochemical route. The Ag content loaded on the array was controlled by changing the concentration of AgNO(3) solution. The Ag-TiO(2) nanotube arrays were characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS and UV-vis absorption. The effects of Ag content on the photoelectrochemical (PEC) property and photocatalytic activity of TiO(2) nanotube array electrode were studied. The results showed that Ag loading significantly enhanced the photocurrent and photocatalytic degradation rate of TiO(2) nanotube array under UV-light irradiation. The photocurrent and photocatalytic degradation rate of Ag-TiO(2) nanotube array prepared in 0.006 M AgNO(3) solution were about 1.2 and 3.7 times as that of pure TiO(2) nanotube array, respectively.