Silver-Decorated TiO₂ Inverse Opal Structure for Visible Light-Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants and Hydrogen Evolution

TiO2 inverse opal (TIO) structures were prepared by the conventional wet chemical method, resulting in well-formed structures for photocatalytic activity. The obtained structures were functionalized with liquid flame spray-deposited silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The nanocomposites of TIO and AgNPs were extensively characterized by various spectroscopies such as UV, Raman, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy combined with microscopic methods such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution TEM. The characterization confirmed that high-quality heterostructures had been fabricated with evenly and uniformly distributed AgNPs. Fabrication of anatase TiO2 was confirmed, and formation of AgNPs was verified with surface plasmon resonant properties. The photocatalytic activity results measured in the gas phase showed that deposition of AgNPs increases photocatalytic activity both under UVA and visible light excitation; moreover, enhanced hydrogen evolution was demonstrated under visible light.