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Abstract: Silver-modified ZnO nanorods array has been prepared and the effect of silver modification has been studied. ZnO nanorods array were fabricated through a wet chemical route and a photo deposition method was taken to fabricate silver nano particulate on the ZnO nanorods. The structural and optical properties were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope, high resolution transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman, UV–vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The UV photocatalytic activity of these materials was studied by analyzing the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution. The photocatalytic performance indicated that Ag deposit acted as not only electron sinks to enhance the separation of photoexcited electrons from holes, but also charge carrier recombination centers, so the optimized amount of Ag deposit was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The simultaneous Ag loaded and N-doped TiO2 hollow nanorod arrays with various contents of silver (Ag/N–THNAs) were successfully synthesized on glass substrates by one-pot liquid phase deposition (LPD) method using ZnO nanorod arrays as template. The catalysts were characterized by Raman spectrum, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), ultraviolet–vis (UV–vis) absorption spectrum and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results suggest that AgNO3 additive in the precursor solutions not only can promote the anatase-to-rutile phase transition, but also influence the amount of N doping in the samples. The photocatalytic activity of all the samples was evaluated by photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution. The sample exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity under UV light illumination when the AgNO3 concentration in the precursor solution was 0.03M, due to Ag nanoparticles acting as electron sinks; When the AgNO3 concentration was 0.07M, the sample performed best under visible light illumination, attributed to the synergetic effects of Ag loading, N doping, and the multiphase structure (anatase/rutile). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]