Hydrogen generation and degradation of trypan blue using fern-like structured silver-doped TiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

TiO₂:Ag nanoparticles have been successfully prepared at 120 °C in one day using an ionic liquid assisted hydrothermal method with methoxyethyl methyl imidazolium methanesulfonate as the ionic liquid. The obtained product was characterized using various techniques. The XRD pattern indicated the formation of TiO₂:Ag nanoparticles, the average crystallite size was found to be 40 nm. XPS confirmed the formation of TiO₂:Ag nanoparticles. The UV-Vis spectrum indicated a maximum absorbance at 362 nm which is red shifted compared to nano-sized TiO₂. The surface morphology was analyzed using SEM, which shows a leaf-like structure for the TiO₂:Ag nanoparticles. TEM images showed almost elliptically (rice pellet) shaped nanoparticles with an average particle size of about 60 nm. The EDS spectrum revealed the presence of Ti, O and Ag with atomic percentages of 42.6, 43.7 and 2.3%, respectively. The TiO₂:Ag nanoparticles generate 2230 μmol H₂ per 1 g of photocatalyst in 2.5 h via the water splitting reaction. They also show good photocatalytic activity in the degradation of trypan blue.