Solvothermal synthesis of a layered titanate nanosheets and its photocatalytic activity: Effect of Ag doping

Photocatalytic activity of titanate nanosheets prepared by continuous hydrothermal flow system has been extensively studied earlier. Herein, for the first time, a thin layered titanate nanosheets were fabricated by one-step solvothermal approach. Descriptive study on solvothermal doping of Ag in titanate nanostructure and crystal growth mechanism of the material prepared by solvothermal synthesis has been discussed. Structure, morphology, crystallinity, electronic properties, optical properties and photo electrochemical parameters have been studied with different level of silver incorporation. Charge transfer among Ti and Ag cluster and change of intermediate energy level results in an electronic renovation of the band structure. The material prepared by solvothermal doping was found to be visible light sensitive without addition of other minerals. Photodegradation of methyl orange and phenol has been observed under visible light irradiation, it shows excellent photocatalytic behavior. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.