Synthesis and Characterization of Silver and Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites

• Main Author: Freda Emmanuel Idely, Dom
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2010
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QD Chemistry
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32830/1/Freda%20Emmanuel%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32830/

Long and straight silver nanowires (AgNWs) with average length of 4 pm were synthesized using the templated method. This polyol process was conducted with silver nitrate (AgNO3) as the Over precursor, polyvinyl pyrollidone (PVP) as capping agent and ethylene glycol (EG) as solvent at 160 °C. The ratio of AgNO3: PVP and the reflux time were proved to have a significant effect on the NWs produced. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with average diameter of 150 nm were also synthesized using a simple reduction method, using ascorbic acid as reducing agent, AgNO3 as oxidizing agent, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as stabilizer and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as catalyst. These AgNWs and AgNPs were then further coated with TiO2. The samples were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transition electron microscopy (TEM). Photocatalytic activity of AgNPs upon irradiation of UV light is studied by using the degradation of methylene blue (MB) as the model reaction. The amount of samples added into the MB and the period of irradiation are factors that were studied.