###### Abstract  
TiO\({}_{2}\) and TiO\({}_{2}\) films modified with Ag (Ag/TiO\({}_{2}\)) were prepared via the DC magnetron sputtering method and the degree of modification was controlled via the sputtering power and time of Ag. The microstructures and properties of these films were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that the prepared films have an anatase structure. Compared with pure TiO\({}_{2}\), Ag deposition can improve the utilization of light. The three-dimensional images of Ag/TiO\({}_{2}\) clearly show that with the increase in Ag sputtering power and sputtering time, Ag particles on the surface of the film gradually increase, and the structure of the film is relatively dense. The photocatalytic effect of Ag/TiO\({}_{2}\) films is the best when the Ag sputtering power is 5 W and the sputtering time is 50 s. Under high-pressure mercury lamp irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl orange (MO) in pure MO solution with Ag/TiO\({}_{2}\)-5 W-50 s can reach 100% within 55 min, whereas that in MO-Na\({}_{2}\)SO\({}_{4}\) mixed solution can reach 99.55% within 65 min. The results suggest that the presence of Na\({}_{2}\)SO\({}_{4}\) in MO solution can inhibit the degradation of MO using Ag/TiO\({}_{2}\), the result of XPS suggests that Na\({}_{2}\)SO\({}_{4}\) accelerates the oxidation of Ag, which may lead to an increase in the recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and a decrease in the degradation rate. During the process of recycling photocatalysts, the degradation rate of MO was apparently reduced. A possible reason is that the Ag particles have been oxidized and products of photocatalytic degradation are on the surface of the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was studied. photocatalytic property; magnetron sputtering; Ag-modified TiO\({}_{2}\); structural analysis 2024 14 4014 14 degradation have been widely applied [3]. Photocatalytic degradation typically results in the formation of smaller, harmless molecules or ions such as water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and non-toxic organic acids. These degradation products are usually less toxic and more easily broken down via natural processes or further processed, thus reducing their impact on the environment and human health. As a result, there is increasing attention on methods for degrading organic compounds in water. TiO\({}_{2}\) is considered an ideal semiconductor photocatalyst material due to its high catalytic activity, non-toxicity to the human body, and strong oxidizing and reducing properties [4]. At present, metal doping [5; 6] has been discovered to adjust the energy band gap of TiO\({}_{2}\) to different degrees, non-metal doping [7], metal deposition [8], and other methods to broaden the light response range of TiO\({}_{2}\) film. When a certain number of metal ions are doped into TiO\({}_{2}\), electron trapping centers are formed, which promote the migration of electrons. At the same time, it may change the crystallinity of TiO\({}_{2}\), produce some surface defects, slow down the recombination of electron-hole pairs, and make TiO\({}_{2}\) generate more active free radicals to improve photocatalytic activity [9]. Noble metal deposition [10; 11; 12] is a method that is used to improve its own catalytic activity by depositing noble metals on the surface of nano-TiO\({}_{2}\). Due to the large Fermi level difference between nano-TiO\({}_{2}\) and noble metals, the Fermi level can be reduced via noble metal deposition [13; 14]. The surface electrons of TiO\({}_{2}\) with high energy level are transferred to the noble metal until the Fermi levels are the same, and the electron distribution of TiO\({}_{2}\) changes to obtain photogenerated electrons, reduce the recombination rate of photogenic charge carrier, and improve the catalytic efficiency of the photocatalyst [15; 16; 17].