Characterization, photocatalytic, and antibacterial activity of Ag–TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by electrical arc discharge method

A simple, inexpensive and one-step synthesis route of Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles by arc discharge method is reported. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrate dominance of rutile to anatase phase in TiO2 and formation of silver metal on TiO2 after arc discharge process. Scanning electron microscopy images exhibit the increase of reduced nanoparticles in 5 minutes arc duration compared with 1 minute arc duration. Photodegradation of Methyl Orange as a standard pollutant shows that the presence of silver in TiO2 was found to enhance the photocatalytic activity. The high activity of silver doped TiO2 is due to the enhancement of electron–hole separation by the electron trapping of silver particles. Antibacterial activities of Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles were investigated at the presence of Escherichia coli bacteria.