A novel synthesis of Ti3+ self-doped Ag2O/TiO2 (p–n) nanoheterojunctions for enhanced visible photocatalytic activity

• Photoreduction method is a potential technique for the fabrication of the SMTNs.
• Ti3+ self-doped and Ag2O/TiO2 is helpful to enhancement of photocatalytic activity.
• The photocatalytic activities of the products on removing of RhB were evaluated.
• The SMTNs show the higher photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.

Monodispersed Ti3+ self-doped Ag2O/TiO2 (p–n) nanoheterojunctions (SMTNs) have been synthesized via a simple hydrothermal combined with photoreductive Ag-loading method, in which simple controlling hydrolysis of Tetrabutyl Titanate (TBOT) in acetic acid (HAc) and then followed by photoreduction of silver nanoparticles attached on TiO2 using AgNO3 as Ag source. The physical and chemical properties of SMTNs were observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The visible light-driven photocatalytic activity of SMTNs was measured by photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution. The results showed that the SMTNs exhibited a better photocatalytic activity than that of TiO2 Ns (pure TiO2 nanospheres).

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