Synergistic silver-titania nano-composites: Optimized hetero-junction for enhanced water decontamination

This research work demonstrates the innovative synthesis of blended nano-composites of silver and titanium dioxide (Ag2O/TiO2) from their supported periodic mesoporous organosilicates (Ag2O/TiO2 @PMOS). PMOS synthesized by sol-gel method were used for the encapsulation of silver and titanium to obtain Ag2O/TiO2 @PMOS which on calcination at 700 °C structured Ag2O/TiO2 nano-composites. These nano-composites highlighted impressive photocatalytic potential due to their structural versatility. Subsequently, Ag2O/TiO2 nano-composites exhibited 19.6 mg and 19.8 mg photo-degradation competencies of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) respectively, in their 20 mg experimental solutions. These improved efficiencies were higher than their parent Ag2O/TiO2 @PMOS materials (MB=75 % and MO=60 % photo-degradation). This makes them highly attractive for addressing contemporary environmental challenges, including water purification. This research contributes to the understanding of PMOS synthetic route to produce blended nano-composites (like Ag2O/TiO2 nano-composites) of well-developed hetero-junction active sites. These active sites enhance the electron-hole pair recombinant time which increase the availability of electrons for the formation of free radicals during photo-degradation. Moreover, Ag2O/TiO2 nano-composites structurally characterized by using different spectroscopic techniques like x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), ultra-violet visible (UV/Vis) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The surface study of Ag2O/TiO2 nano-composites was completed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Enrich and improved outcomes of Ag2O/TiO2 nano-composites demonstrating their prospective for environmental remediation and may provide a characteristic platform for industrial and domestic water decontamination.