Enhanced photoactivity effect of Ag metal loading on Zr4+doped N-TiO2 obtained by microwave assisted method

Herein, we report the fabrication of Ag metal loading on Zr-doped-N-TiO2 (AgZrT) nanocomposites (NCs) via microwave-assisted impregnation reduction method. The main objective of the work is to study the effect of Ag loading on structural, chemical and photoactivity of Zr-doped-N-TiO2(ZrT). The obtained NCs were characterized using XRD, HRTEM, EDS, XPS etc. Obtained AgZrT NCs showed the existence of metastable anatase phase with an average crystallite size of about 10 nm supported by HRTEM. The presence of Ti, Zr and Ag is confirmed by EDS while the metallic state of Ag and oxidation state of Ti and Zr (+4) is confirmed by using XPS. The Ag loading effect on photoactivity of ZrT NPs was studied under UV and direct sunlight using model dye Methyl Orange (MO). The positive impact of Ag metal loading is supported by the enhanced photoactivity of ZrT. The degradation kinetics for MO and its plausible mechanism under sunlight is proposed.