N-doped Ag/TiO2 hollow spheres for highly efficient photocatalysis under visible-light irradiation

This paper describes the synthesis of TiO2 hollow spheres (HSs) modified via nitrogen doping and silver loading (Ag-N-TiO2) with particle diameters of similar to 100 nm. The specific surface area of the Ag-N-TiO2 was up to 147 m(2) g(-1) and this structure is stable upon high temperature treatment. Ag-N-TiO2 exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of dye compounds under visible light irradiation (>= 410 nm) due to their larger surface area and controlled morphology compared with previously reported N-doped TiO2 fine particles (e. g. N-P25).