Ag-doped TiO₂ hollow microspheres with visible light response by template-free route for removal of tetracycline hydrochloride from aqueous solution

In this study, Ag-doped TiO₂ hollow microspheres were synthesized by a template-free route, and their photocatalytic performance and catalytic mechanism were investigated. The hollow microspheres were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. Ag-doped hollow TiO₂ microspheres exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) in water. TC degradation follows pseudo first-order kinetics, and hydroxyl radical (OH•) and holes (h⁺) were active substances in the photocatalytic reaction.