Synthesis of TiO2 Nanotubes Decorated with Ag Nanoparticles (TNTs/AgNPs) For Visible Light Degradation of Methylene Blue

• Main Authors: Isa, N (Author), Kawamura, G (Author), Kian, TW (Author), Lockman, Z (Author), Matsuda, A (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: TITANIUM-DIOXIDE NANOTUBES
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) decorated with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were fabricated first by anodisation of titanium wire to produce the TNTs then by dispersing AgNPs on the TNT arrays. The AgNPs were produced by reduction in kyllinga brevifolia extract. The AgNPs have diameter in the range of 10 - 30 nm measured from transmission electron microscope image and average particle size of 22.3 nm. They were dispersed on TNTs by wetness impregnation technique. The morphology of the fabricated TNTs/AgNPs was evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM images of the sample shows highly ordered TNTs with 7.30 +/- 0.46 mu m long with 74.59 +/- 9.22 nm inner diameters and wall thickness 33.51 +/- 4.56 nm. After impregnation, the dispersed AgNPs appear to be distributed uniformly across the surface of the TNTs. The TNTs/AgNPs composite were used to remove methylene blue (MB) dye from an artificial wastewater. On TNTs/AgNPs 63% degradation was recorded compares to pure TNTs with only 17% degradation after 1 hr reaction under visible light. The addition of AgNPs has contributed to the activation of the composite under visible light perhaps due to the surface plasmon of the AgNPs as well as electrons transfer process to the conduction band of TiO2.