Preparation of TiO₂/Ag binary nanocomposite as high-activity visible-light-driven photocatalyst via graft polymerization

We report the synthesis of a TiO₂/Ag binary nanocomposite with high activity for visible-light-driven photocatalysts using graft copolymerization: (1) conversion of terminal OH groups on the surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles to Cl groups, (2) graft polymerization from TiO₂–Cl via ATRP with ionically charged poly(styrene sulfonic acid), (3) ion exchange process with an AgNO₃ solution following sintering. TiO2/Ag binary nanocomposite showed enhanced photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methyl orange under visible light illumination. The improved photocatalytic performance of the TiO₂/Ag binary nanocomposite was due to the plasmonic effect, recombination rate of electron–hole pairs that was suppressed by Ag nanoparticles.