Synthesis TiO₂-Ag thin film by DC Sputtering method for dye degradation

Titanium dioxide (T1O2) is well known as the most active and stable semiconductor as an environmentally friendly photocatalytic material to degrade pollutants in aqueous and gas. In this research, TiO₂ thin film was synthesized on a stainless steel surface using DC sputtering method. To enhance the photocatalytic activity, the TiO₂ thin film was doped with a silver (Ag) also using DC sputtering method. The surface morphology, chemical composition, and crystal structure of the thin film were characterized using scanning electron microscopy –energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and X-rays diffraction (XRD), respectively. Based on SEM-EDX analysis, it's found that the content of silver (Ag) is 10.5 % weight or 2.56 % at.. This condition was achieved for 2 minutes of deposition time. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ and TiO₂-Ag thin film was studied using UV light and sunlight. As a model pollutant, it's used methylene blue. It's found that, if the film exposure using UV light, the absorbance for TiO₂ film is 35.85 % and 64.26 % for TiO₂-Ag thin film. If the film exposure using sunlight, the absorbance for TiO₂ film is 17.5 % and 76.74 % for TiO₂-Ag thin film. It can be concluded that the effect of Ag doping can enhance the photocatalytic activity of the thin film.