Speakers - 2026

Title: Dielectric barrier discharge Plasma based modification of synthesized Ag-TiO2 nanocomposites for enhancement of photocatalytic activity from UV to visible region

Abstract

In recent decades, the unabated discharge of dye containing effluents from textile industries has severely damaged irrigation lands, threatened aquatic ecosystems, and compromised the safety of drinking water. To tackle these problems, we have prepared a Photocatalyst material (Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite) employing Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma, operated at several voltages (14, 16, and 18 kV DBD).  The aim of this project was to achieve the Photocatalytic activity in visible region. This process led to significant improvements in photocatalytic performance, which are closely linked to enhanced structural and optical properties. Structural changes, Surface morphology, elemental composition, optical absorption and functional groups of material have been observed by XRD, FESEM, EDX, UV-Visible spectrometer, and FTIR respectively.  Comprehensive characterization by XRD, FESEM, EDX, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and FTIR revealed that the 16kV plasma treatment produced samples with the highest crystallinity, abundant active surface sites, and a distinct redshift in optical absorption attributable to surface plasmon resonance (SPR). EDX confirmed significant Ag incorporation, while FTIR identified Ag–O, Ti–O, and Ag–TiO vibrational modes whose intensities correlated with increased crystallinity and absorption centers. Consequently, the 16 kV DBD sample exhibited superior visible light driven photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, methyl orange, and especially methyl green, achieving the highest dye removal rates under visible Light Irradiation. These findings demonstrate that DBD plasma treatment at an optimal voltage markedly enhances the structural and optical properties of Ag-TiO2 composites, offering a promising route for sustainable, solar driven remediation of toxic dyes in water.

Audience take away from your presentation:

1.DBD Plasma Modification: The audience will learn how Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma enhances Ag–TiO2 nanocomposites for better photocatalytic activity under visible light.

2. Environmental Remediation: The research offers a practical solution for photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes in water, addressing pollution in textile industry wastewater.

3. Material Characterization Insights: Techniques like XRD, FESEM, EDX, UV Vis, and FTIR are demonstrated to assess the properties of modified materials.

4. Optimizing Material Design: The study helps design more effective photocatalysts for sustainable environmental cleanup applications.

How this will benefit the audience

• Faculty and researchers in material science, nanotechnology, and environmental engineering can use this knowledge to develop more efficient photocatalytic systems for water purification, improving the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of their research.
• The findings will also help in the design of new materials for solar driven applications, offering a practical solution to a global problem environmental contamination by toxic dyes.
• Industrial designers and environmental engineers can use this research to streamline processes for creating more effective, low energy, and sustainable materials for pollution control.
• This research could also inform teaching by providing new case studies and experiments on plasma modification and photocatalysis.