Electrodeposition preparation of Ag loaded N-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance

Ag nanoparticles loaded N-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (Ag/N-TNTs) were successfully fabricated by an electrodeposition method. The Ag/N-TNTs were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-vis diffusion reflection spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The average photocurrent density and the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the Ag/N-TNTs obtained for the degradation of Acid Orange II AO-II are 6 times and 6.8 times higher than those of annealed TiO2 nanotube arrays (A-TNTs), respectively. This bestows the Ag/N-TNTs as a promising photocatalytic material for organic pollutant degradation under visible light. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.