Preparation of visible-light nano-photocatalysts through decoration of TiO2 by silver nanoparticles in inverse miniemulsions.

Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites were prepared through combination of a sol-gel process of a titanium precursor in inverse miniemulsions and in situ reduction of silver ions in the "nanoreactors". The morphological investigation shows that Ag nanoparticles are mainly located on the surface of TiO2 nano-supports because of the fast reduction rate of Ag ions by hydrazine. Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites with amorphous or anatase TiO2 phase displayed high visible-light catalytic activity for degradation of Rhodamine B. The photoactivity of Ag/anatase TiO2 nanocomposites could be influenced by the Ag content that could be conveniently tuned by the loading of silver salts. The influence of the loading of silver salts on the particle properties of the Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites was investigated systematically.