Enhancement of the photoelectrocatalytic activity of TiO2/ACF for ethylene removal by Ag nanoparticles synthesized by γ-ray radiolysis

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), obtained by reduction from AgNO 3 solution and stabilized in polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), have been synthesized by γ-ray radiolysis . The application of photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) oxidation in ethylene gas treatment using a TiO 2 photocatalyst combined with as-prepared AgNPs on activated carbon fiber (ACF) ([Ag+TiO 2 ]/ACF) as a photoelectrode in a Nafion-based photoelectrocatalytic cell is presented. The effects on the PEC degradation of C 2 H 4 of the preparation parameters of the AgNPs, such as the radiation dose and the amount of PVP added, have been systematically investigated. Emphasis is placed on comparison of the C 2 H 4 decomposition rate constant with [Ag+TiO 2 /ACF] as a photoelectrode in a photoelectrocatalytic cell with that achieved with [TiO 2 /ACF]. The factors responsible for the enhancing effect of AgNPs on the PEC activity of the [Ag+TiO 2 /ACF] photoelectrode are discussed.