Visible light-induced photocatalytic activity of Ag-containing TiO2/carbon nanofibers composites

TiO2/carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites containing Ag nanoparticles (Ag–TiO2/CNF) were prepared and their photocatalytic degradation ability upon visible light irradiation assessed. The reduction of methylene blue (MB) adsorption in an aqueous solution by the photocatalysts occurred due to the combined effects of MB adsorption in the pores of CNFs and decomposition by the photocatalysts throughout the process. The Ag–TiO2/CNF photocatalyst degraded MB 17 times faster than the TiO2/CNF composites with no Ag nanoparticles after 3 h under visible light illuminations.