An investigation of silver-nanoparticle-modified TiO2 substrates for photocatalytic oxidation in wastewater treatment

This research aims to explore the decoration of TiO2 substrates with silver nanoparticles as a means of enhancing the photocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds. The results show that decorated TiO2 substrates exhibit significantly higher photocatalytic activity in sunlight than undecorated substrates. Morphological analysis is performed, followed by optical and structural characterizations. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the TiO2 reveals many nanotubular structures with particle sizes of ∼134.4, 148.8, and 132.7 nm at random locations. TiO2 is also found to have an absorbance range of 397.6 nm, from which it is known that the photocatalyst reacts in the presence of an ultraviolet source. From the Miller indices of the x-ray diffraction peaks, the preferred crystal orientation is found to be associated with a face-centered cubic structure with a crystallite size of 3.76 nm. Using these promising results, photocatalytic analysis is performed, revealing good degradation characteristics. This investigation reveals that TiO2 substrates coated with Ag nanoparticles possess significant potential for application in the photocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue dye, which is a crucial step toward establishing a cleaner environment.