Solvothermal–Photoreduction Synthesis and Characterization of Ag‐Decorated TiO ₂ Nanoparticles

ABSTRACT TiO 2 nanoparticles have attracted significant interest due to their unique structural properties and the existence of three crystal phases: anatase, rutile, and brookite. In this work, Ag‐decorated TiO 2 nanoparticles were synthesized via modified solvothermal—photoreduction technique, using titanium tetraisopropoxide as a precursor and ethylene glycol as a solvent, followed by annealing at 300°C. X‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed the coexistence of anatase and rutile phases, while XPS results verified the incorporation of Ag into the TiO 2 matrix. FESEM and TEM observations revealed that TiO 2 nanoparticles were decorated with Ag nanoparticles. BET surface area measurements indicated a mesoporous structure with a high specific surface area of 453.2673 m 2 /g, enhancing the material's potential for photocatalytic and gas‐sensing applications. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra exhibited a shift toward the green wavelength region, attributed to oxygen vacancies primarily associated with the anatase phase. Overall, the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles was found to narrow the TiO 2 bandgap and suppress charge carrier recombination, thereby improving its functional performance.