Ag-SrTiO3/TiO2 composite nanostructures with enhanced photocatalytic activity

TiO2 has been regarded as an efficient benchmark photocatalyst that can work under ultraviolet light. However, further modification of TiO2 for achieving even higher photocatalytic activities is necessary for practical applications and for enriching the family of TiO2-based photocatalysts. Herein, a novel Ag-SrTiO3/TiO2 photocatalyst was prepared by hydrothermally treating TiO2 nanosheets in an aqueous Sr(OH)(2) solution (to form SrTiO3 nanocubes supported on TiO2 nanosheets) followed by depositing Ag nanoparticles via photoreduction in the presence of an aqueous AgNO3 solution. In this case, Ag nanoparticles were found to be deposited on both SrTiO3 and TiO2 surfaces. The resulting Ag-SrTiO3/TiO2 was found to be more active than reference catalysts such as TiO2, SrTiO3/TiO2, Ag/TiO2, and Ag/SrTiO3 in photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) under simulated sun light. Relevant catalysts were characterized systematically, and possible reasons for the enhanced activity of Ag-SrTiO3/TiO2 was explained.