Preparation of Ag nanoparticles loaded TiO2 nanoplate arrays on activated carbon fibers with enhanced photocatalytic activity

•Ag nanoparticles were loaded on TiO2 nanoplate which grew on activated carbon fiber.•The Ag nanoparticles were deposited uniformly on the titania nanoplate array.•The effect of dosage of Ag on the photocatalytic activity was investigated.•The obtained samples showed high photoactivity under both UV and visible light.

Ag loaded TiO2 nanoplate array which grew on activated carbon fiber (ACF) was prepared in the present work. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) was used to investigate the activity of the synthesized samples. Under both UV and visible light irradiation, the Ag loaded samples showed enhanced photocatalytic activity. Besides, the effect of the deposition dosage of Ag nanoparticles on the photocatalytic activity was also investigated. Under UV light irradiation, the Ag nanoparticles acted as electron traps, which enhanced electron–hole separation efficiency of TiO2. Under visible light irradiation, the Ag nanoparticles showed surface plasmon resonance, which induced the visible light responsive photocatalytic activity for the obtained samples.

Graphical abstractAg nanoparticles loaded TiO2 nanoplate array which grew on activated carbon fiber (ACF) was prepared for the first time. Results showed that the Ag nanoparticles deposited uniformly on the titania nanoplate array, which grew nearly perpendicularly on the activated carbon fiber. The obtained samples showed high photocatalytic activity for phenol degradation under both UV and visible light.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide