Ag2O/TiO2 Nanobelts Heterostructure with Enhanced Ultraviolet and Visible Photocatalytic Activity

Ag2O/TiO2 heterostructure with high photocatalytic activity both in ultraviolet and visible-light region was synthesized via a simple and practical coprecipitation method by using surface-modified TiO2 nanobelts as substrate materials. The as prepared heterostructure composite included Ag2O nanoparticles assembled uniformly on the rough surface of TiO2 nanobelts. Comparing with pure TiO2 nanobelts and Ag2O nanoparticles the composite photocatalyst with a wide weight ratio between TiO2 and Ag2O exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation in the decomposition of methyl orange (MO) aqueous solution. On the basis of the characterization by X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, two mechanisms were proposed to account for the photocatalytic activity of Ag2O/TiO2 nanobelts heterostructure.