Facile synthesis of robust Ag/ZnO composites by sol-gel autocombustion and ion-impregnation for the photocatalytic degradation of sucrose.

Metallic Ag nanoparticles decorated on ZnO photocatalysts were prepared by facile sol-gel autocombustion followed by ion-impregnation. Electron microscopy studies revealed the presence of impregnated Ag as nanoparticles on ZnO surfaces, which affected the microstructure of ZnO particles. XRD patterns of Ag/ZnO composites confirmed the metallic phase of Ag.