Enhanced adsorption and visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity of hydroxyapatite modified Ag–TiO2 powders

In order to get a kind of materials with enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic performance, hydroxyapatite modified Ag–TiO2 powders (Ag–TiO2–HAP) were prepared by a facile wet chemical strategy. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption measurement (BET), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), etc. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by photocatalytic oxidation decomposition of acetone in air under visible-light illumination. The results showed that the coupled system indicated a highest photocatalytic activity and photochemical stability under visible-light irradiation than all the other catalysts. The intensively improved visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity of the Ag–TiO2–HAP hybrids could be attributed to its strong absorption in the visible-light region, low recombination rate of the electron–hole pair and large BET specific surface area.