Photoconversion of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of hydrazine with AgNPs-TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by the sol-gel method

J Hazard Mater. 2014 Mar 15:268:84-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.12.069. Epub 2014 Jan 8.

Abstract

The photocatalytic properties of functionalized TiO2 with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of hydrazine were investigated. The TiO2 semiconductor synthesized by the sol-gel method was functionalized with AgNPs at different loadings, and their structural and optical properties were characterized by several techniques. The functionalized TiO2 with 1.5wt% AgNPs presented the highest photocatalytic activity for the conversion of 4-nitrophenol with appropriate hydrazine concentrations (0.5M). The photoefficiency enhancement under UV light irradiation was attributed to the electron transfer from the TiO2 semiconductor surface to the adsorbed acceptor reactant (4-nitrophenol) through the deposited AgNPs.

Keywords: 4-Nitrophenol photoconversion; AgNPs photoactivity; Hydrazine reactant; TiO(2) sol–gel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Hydrazines / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nitrophenols / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Semiconductors
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Hydrazines
  • Nitrophenols
  • titanium dioxide
  • hydrazine
  • Silver
  • Titanium
  • 4-nitrophenol