Ag-SrTiO3/TiO2 composite nanostructures with enhanced photocatalytic activity

TiO 2 has been regarded as an efficient benchmark photocatalyst that can work under ultraviolet light. However, further modification of TiO 2 for achieving even higher photocatalytic activities is necessary for practical applications and for enriching the family of TiO 2 -based photocatalysts. Herein, a novel Ag-SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 photocatalyst was prepared by hydrothermally treating TiO 2 nanosheets in an aqueous Sr(OH) 2 solution (to form SrTiO 3 nanocubes supported on TiO 2 nanosheets) followed by depositing Ag nanoparticles via photoreduction in the presence of an aqueous AgNO 3 solution. In this case, Ag nanoparticles were found to be deposited on both SrTiO 3 and TiO 2 surfaces. The resulting Ag-SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 was found to be more active than reference catalysts such as TiO 2 , SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 , Ag/TiO 2 , and Ag/SrTiO 3 in photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) under simulated sun light. Relevant catalysts were characterized systematically, and possible reasons for the enhanced activity of Ag-SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 was explained.