Nanostructured AgBr loaded TiO(2): An efficient sunlight active photocatalyst for degradation of Reactive Red 120

The AgBr loaded TiO(2 )catalyst was prepared by a feasible approach with AgBr and tetraisopropyl orthotitanate and characterized by BET surface area measurement, diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectra (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) analysis. The results of characterization reveal that AgBr loaded TiO(2 )has a nanostructure. Formation of the nanostructure in AgBr loaded TiO(2 )results in substantial shifting of the absorption edge of TiO(2 )to red and enhancement of visible light absorption. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements reveal that AgBr loaded TiO(2 )has a higher photoconductivity than prepared TiO(2 )due to higher separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal enhanced conductivity in AgBr loaded TiO(2), which causes an increase in its photocatalytic activity. AgBr loaded TiO(2 )exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity than TiO(2)-P25 and prepared TiO(2 )in the photodegradation of Reactive Red 120 (RR 120).