One-step preparation of silver and indium oxide co-doped TiO2 photocatalyst for the degradation of rhodamine B

A novel co-doped TiO2 photocatalyst, Ag/In2O3–TiO2, was developed through a one-step sol–gel process followed by a solvent thermal treatment in the presence of triblock copolymer surfactant. The product showed very small particle size (12 ± 2 nm) with metallic Ag clusters well-distributed on the surface of the product, at the same time, the product was mainly in the anatase phase with high crystallinity. The photocatalytic activity of Ag/In2O3–TiO2 was evaluated by the degradation of an aqueous solution of dye rhodamine B (RB), and the obtained significantly high photocatalytic activity can be ascribed to the simultaneous effects of doped noble metal Ag by acting as electron traps and semiconductor In2O3 as narrow band gap sensitizer. In addition, the unique morphology and nanosize of the product also played an important role in this enhanced photocatalytic activity.