Synthesis and optical absorption property of ordered macroporous titania film doped with Ag nanoparticles

Ordered macroporous anatase titania films doped with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by infiltrating titania sol into the interstitial voids of polystyrene colloidal sphere templates, removing the templates, immersing the films in a silver nitrate solution, and subsequently reducing in hydrogen atmosphere. Ag NPs were distributed uniformly within the macropores of the anatase titania film. Both the macroporous titania films doped with Ag NPs and those without doping have a blue-shift compared with that of the sol–gel derived titania film. Except for the plasma resonance absorption of Ag NPs, the macroporous titania film doped with Ag NPs also has a red-shift compared with the undoped sample. The macroporous titania film doped with Ag NPs have potential applications in the fields of optics, gas sensors, and catalysis.