Effect of ultrasound on the preparation of Ag/TiO₂composite particles via alcohol reduction process

Abstract

In this study, silver-doped TiO₂ composites (Ag/TiO₂) were prepared by alcohol reduction method with ultrasonication assistance. The TiO₂ particles were prepared through sol-gel process, using titanium(IV) isopropoxide as precursor. When prepared TiO₂ particles are calcined at 450 ℃ for 2 h, only the anatase TiO₂ appears. It is shown that the spherical particles possess submicron diameter about 600 – 800 nm. The immobilized Ag nanoparticles on the TiO₂ surface were formed by alcohol reduction method using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer. The cavitation by cause of ultrasonic treatment affected to the quantity of Ag nanoparticles and their size doped on TiO₂. The Ag nanoparticles are homogeneously covered surface of TiO₂ by with ultrasonic treatment. When compared between NUS (non-ultrasonication) and US (ultrasonication), Ag nanoparticles quantity and diameter of Ag nanoparticles of US were more and smaller than that of NUS, respectively. The composite obtained was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible spectroscopy.