TiO2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of dyes under visible light irradiation

TiO 2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite was prepared by incorporating AgCl nanoparticles within the bulk of TiO 2 porous ceramic followed by reducing Ag + in the AgCl particles to Ag 0 species under visible light irradiation. The porous TiO 2 ceramic was physically robust and chemically durable, and the porous structure facilitated the implantation of AgCl NPs. Compared with the bare TiO 2 ceramic, TiO 2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite exhibited higher photocatalytic performance for the degradation of MO and RhB under visible light irradiation. The reaction rate constants k of MO and RhB degradation over TiO 2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite was respectively 6.25 times and 3.62 times higher than those recorded over the bare TiO 2 porous ceramic. The photocatalytic activity showed virtually no decline after four times cyclic experiments under visible light irradiation. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the TiO 2 porous ceramic/Ag–AgCl composite.