Structure and Properties of Ternary Photocatalysts Based on Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Modified with Silver and Cerium

In this work, photoelectron nanocomposites of TiO 2 &CeO 2 &Ag were synthesized by a co-deposition method using TTIP (Titanium TetraIsoPropoxide) and water solutions of Ce(NO 3 ) 3 and AgNO 3 . Heat treatment of the precipitates at 600°C led to the formation of an anatase phase with the primary particles’ size of 14.1–15.2 nm. Molecules of Malachite green and Methylene blue are intensively adsorbed on the surface of nanocomposites. TiO 2 &CeO 2 &Ag nanocomposites show high photocatalytic activity to cationic dyes and weak – to anionic ones. The photocatalytic decomposition of cationic dyes is accompanied by a hypsochromic shift of chromophoric bands. Only the chromophoric part of the dye molecules is destroyed by temperature (catalytic process). Nanocomposites based on anatase containing 1–2 wt.% of Ag and Ce show the highest photocatalytic activity for the destruction of organic dyes.