Fabrication and Characterization of Visible-Light-Driven Plasmonic Photocatalyst Ag/AgCl/TiO2 Porous Structure

An advanced three-dimensional printing process for producing the silver clusters/ Silver(I) chloride/titanium dioxide-coupled photocatalyst was developed and tested for its stability and degradability in relation to azo dye (Orange II) and bacteria (Escherichia coli). The titanium dioxide structure is produced through fused filament fabrication (FFF) with filaments of thermoplastic material, which is composed of titanium dioxide anatase nanoparticles, high density polyethylene (HDPE), stearic acid, wax, and plasticizer. The TiO2 structure is then solvent degreased, thermal degreased, and sintered to become a fundamental structure to couple the AgCl particles through an ion exchange process. Following the photoreduction of UV radiation, a silver clusters/Silver(I) chloride/titanium dioxide-coupled photocatalyst is formed. In our experiments, the degradation of Orange II dye and E. coli was performed under visible and ultraviolet light irradiation. The degradation kinetics of Orange II dye was a first-order reaction, with the degradability (94%) persisting for five cycles. The sterilization of E. coli was accomplished within 120 min, and the degradation kinetics were characteristic of a hyperbolic reaction. The photocatalytic module prepared through FFF not only exhibited the ability to degrade contaminants in water but also exhibited durability and reliability after repeated use.