Synthesis of Ag Doped Nano TiO_2 as Efficient Solar Photocatalyst for the Degradation of Endosulfan

摘要

Silver nanoparticles doped anatase TiO_2 nanocrystals were prepared via low temperature hydrothermal route. The synthesized nanocrystals are highly efficient solar photocatalysts and showed higher photocatalytic activity than pure nano TiO_2 and commercial photocatalyst Degussa P25, under sunlight. Silver nanoparticles for doping were prepared by a novel, single step chemical reduction and stabilization employing L-Dopa. DRS study showed that nanosilver doping on TiO_2 induces a shift of absorption edge to the visible range and there is a narrowing of the band gap. The solar photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized samples was checked by the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and found that photocatalytic activity of TiO_2 under solar irradiation was drastically increased by doping silver nanoparticles. Further, the synthesized solar photocatalysts were used for the degradation of the organochlorine pesticide, endosulfan and achieved near complete degradation with the highly active calcined nanosilver doped TiO_2 catalyst.