The Sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> Thin Film by Ag Nanoparticles for the Improvement of Photocatalytic Efficiency
The formation of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of TiO<sub>2</sub> (AgNP/TiO<sub>2</sub>) to enhance photocatalytic efficiency was studied. The Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) size, form, and distribution dependence on the initial thickness of Ag thin films, annealing temperature, a...
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| author | Vytautas Kavaliūnas Paulius Čeplikas Mantas Sriubas Giedrius Laukaitis |
| author_facet | Vytautas Kavaliūnas Paulius Čeplikas Mantas Sriubas Giedrius Laukaitis |
| author_sort | Vytautas Kavaliūnas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The formation of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of TiO<sub>2</sub> (AgNP/TiO<sub>2</sub>) to enhance photocatalytic efficiency was studied. The Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) size, form, and distribution dependence on the initial thickness of Ag thin films, annealing temperature, and time were analyzed. The optimal annealing temperature of 400 °C and annealing time of 60 min were chosen to form AgNP from the initial Ag thin films with a thickness of 5, 7.5, and 10 nm. The formation of AgNP was done on amorphous TiO<sub>2</sub> (a-TiO<sub>2</sub>), which crystallized into the anatase phase after the annealing. The photocatalytic efficiency (k–degradation rate constant, <i>D<sub>efi</sub></i>–degradation efficiency) was evaluated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B aqueous solution. The results suggested that the highest photocatalytic efficiency of Rhodamine B aqueous solution was reached where the average diameter (<i>D<sub>A</sub></i>) of AgNP was ~38 nm (<i>k</i><sub>38</sub> = 0.017 min<sup>−1</sup>, <i>D<sub>efi_</sub></i><sub>38</sub> = 63.5%), compared to 27 and 82 nm (<i>k</i><sub>27</sub> = 0.012 min<sup>−1</sup>, <i>D<sub>efi_</sub></i><sub>27</sub> = 51.2% and <i>k</i><sub>82</sub> = 0.011 min<sup>−1</sup>, <i>D<sub>efi_</sub></i><sub>82</sub> = 52.1%, respectively). The acquired results did not show clear correlation between the size and distribution of the AgNP on the TiO<sub>2</sub> surface and photocatalytic efficiency. Nevertheless, the results suggest that AgNP can enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO<sub>2</sub> thin films (<i>k<sub>TiO</sub></i><sub>2</sub> = 0.008 min<sup>−1</sup>, <i>D<sub>efi_TiO</sub></i><sub>2</sub> = 36.3%). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:29:06Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-ccb7c453ea89480782997cc6212dd1f02023-11-23T13:46:51ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-06-011211572510.3390/app12115725The Sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> Thin Film by Ag Nanoparticles for the Improvement of Photocatalytic EfficiencyVytautas Kavaliūnas0Paulius Čeplikas1Mantas Sriubas2Giedrius Laukaitis3Department of Physics, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų St. 50, LT-51368 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Physics, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų St. 50, LT-51368 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Physics, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų St. 50, LT-51368 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Physics, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų St. 50, LT-51368 Kaunas, LithuaniaThe formation of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of TiO<sub>2</sub> (AgNP/TiO<sub>2</sub>) to enhance photocatalytic efficiency was studied. The Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) size, form, and distribution dependence on the initial thickness of Ag thin films, annealing temperature, and time were analyzed. The optimal annealing temperature of 400 °C and annealing time of 60 min were chosen to form AgNP from the initial Ag thin films with a thickness of 5, 7.5, and 10 nm. The formation of AgNP was done on amorphous TiO<sub>2</sub> (a-TiO<sub>2</sub>), which crystallized into the anatase phase after the annealing. The photocatalytic efficiency (k–degradation rate constant, <i>D<sub>efi</sub></i>–degradation efficiency) was evaluated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B aqueous solution. The results suggested that the highest photocatalytic efficiency of Rhodamine B aqueous solution was reached where the average diameter (<i>D<sub>A</sub></i>) of AgNP was ~38 nm (<i>k</i><sub>38</sub> = 0.017 min<sup>−1</sup>, <i>D<sub>efi_</sub></i><sub>38</sub> = 63.5%), compared to 27 and 82 nm (<i>k</i><sub>27</sub> = 0.012 min<sup>−1</sup>, <i>D<sub>efi_</sub></i><sub>27</sub> = 51.2% and <i>k</i><sub>82</sub> = 0.011 min<sup>−1</sup>, <i>D<sub>efi_</sub></i><sub>82</sub> = 52.1%, respectively). The acquired results did not show clear correlation between the size and distribution of the AgNP on the TiO<sub>2</sub> surface and photocatalytic efficiency. Nevertheless, the results suggest that AgNP can enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO<sub>2</sub> thin films (<i>k<sub>TiO</sub></i><sub>2</sub> = 0.008 min<sup>−1</sup>, <i>D<sub>efi_TiO</sub></i><sub>2</sub> = 36.3%).https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/11/5725titanium dioxidesilver nanoparticlesphotocatalysis |
| spellingShingle | Vytautas Kavaliūnas Paulius Čeplikas Mantas Sriubas Giedrius Laukaitis The Sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> Thin Film by Ag Nanoparticles for the Improvement of Photocatalytic Efficiency Applied Sciences titanium dioxide silver nanoparticles photocatalysis |
| title | The Sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> Thin Film by Ag Nanoparticles for the Improvement of Photocatalytic Efficiency |
| title_full | The Sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> Thin Film by Ag Nanoparticles for the Improvement of Photocatalytic Efficiency |
| title_fullStr | The Sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> Thin Film by Ag Nanoparticles for the Improvement of Photocatalytic Efficiency |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> Thin Film by Ag Nanoparticles for the Improvement of Photocatalytic Efficiency |
| title_short | The Sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> Thin Film by Ag Nanoparticles for the Improvement of Photocatalytic Efficiency |
| title_sort | sensitization of tio sub 2 sub thin film by ag nanoparticles for the improvement of photocatalytic efficiency |
| topic | titanium dioxide silver nanoparticles photocatalysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/11/5725 |
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