Ultrasmall Plasmonic Nanoparticles Decorated Hierarchical Mesoporous TiO2 as an Efficient Photocatalyst for Photocatalytic Degradation of Textile Dyes

Hierarchical mesoporous TiO2 was synthesized via a solvothermal technique. The sonochemical method was adopted to decorate plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) (Ag, Au) on the pores of mesoporous TiO2. The crystallinity, structure, and morphology were determined to understand the physicochemical nature of the nanocomposites. The catalytic efficiency of the plasmonic nanocatalysts was tested for the azo dyes (congo red, methyl orange, acid orange 10, and remazol red) under solar and visible light irradiations. The generation of hydroxyl radicals was also studied using terephthalic acid as a probe molecule. An attempt was made to understand the influence of size, work function and Fermi level of the metal NPs toward the efficiency of the photocatalyst. The efficiency of the nanocomposites was found to be in the order of P25 < mesoporous TiO2 < mesoporous Ag-TiO2 < mesoporous Au-TiO2 nanospheres under both direct solar light and visible light irradiation. The results indicated that the adsorption of dye, anatase phase, and surface plasmon resonance of NPs favored the effective degradation of dyes in aqueous solution. Further, the efficiency of the catalyst was also tested for xanthene (rose bengal), rhodamine (rhodamine B, rhodamine 6G), and thiazine (methylene blue) dyes. Both TiO2 and NPs (Ag & Au) possess a huge potential as an eco-friendly photocatalyst for wastewater treatment.