Photoassisted mineralization of remazole red F3B over NiO/TiO2 and CdO/TiO2 nanoparticles under simulated sunlight

In this work, a series of titania-supported NiO and CdO materials were synthesized by a modified sol-gel process. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The activities of titania-supported NiO and CdO photocatalysts for photocatalytic degradation of Remazole Red F3B (RR) dye, under simulated sunlight, were investigated. The photocatalytic mineralization of an RR dye solution over various NiO-x/TiO₂ and CdO-x/TiO₂ photocatalysts under simulated sunlight was investigated. It was worthy noticing that the photocatalytic activity of titania improved using the prepared catalysts. The prepared TiO₂, NiO-5/TiO₂, and CdO-2/TiO₂ photocatalysts exhibited higher photocatalytic activity under simulated sunlight than did commercial TiO₂. The prepared photocatalysts were stable after photocatalytic degradation of the dye. The observed photocatalytic mineralization of the dye was 51 and 71% over NiO-10/TiO₂ and CdO-2/TiO₂ after 180 min of irradiation, respectively. Juxtaposing a p-NiO-5/TiO₂ semiconductor provided a potential approach for decreasing charge recombination. The prepared photocatalystsNiO-5/TiO₂ and CdO-2/TiO₂ are promising composites for the solar detoxification of textile wastewater.     

Microwave photocatalysis III. Transition metal ion‐doped TiO2 thin films on mercury electrodeless discharge lamps: preparation,characterization and their effect on the photocatalytic degradation of mono‐chloroacetic acid and Rhodamine B

BACKGROUND: Mercury electrodeless discharge lamps (Hg‐EDLs) were used to generate UV radiation when exposed to a microwave field. EDLs were coated with doped TiO₂ in the form of thin films containing transition metal ions Mⁿ⁺ (M = Fe, Co, Ni, V, Cr, Mn, Zr, Ag). Photocatalytic degradation of mono‐chloroacetic acid (MCAA) to HCl, CO₂, and H₂O, and decomposition of Rhodamine B on the thin films were investigated in detail. RESULTS: Polycrystalline thin doped TiO₂ films were prepared by dip‐coating of EDL via a sol–gel method using titanium n‐butoxide, acetylacetone, and a transition metal acetylacetonate. The films were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron microprobe analysis and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The photocatalytic activity of doped TiO₂ films was monitored in the decomposition of Rhodamine B in water. Compared with the pure TiO₂ film, the UV/Vis spectra of V, Zr and Ag‐doped TiO₂ showed significant absorption in the visible region, and hence the photocatalytic degradation of MCAA had increased. The best apparent degradation rate constant (0.0125 min^?1), which was higher than that on the pure TiO₂ film by a factor of 1.7, was obtained with the Ag(3%)/TiO₂ photocatalyst. The effect of doping level of vanadium acetylacetonate on the photocatalytic efficiency of the V‐doped TiO₂ was determined. CONCLUSIONS: Transition metal ion‐doped TiO₂ thin films showed significant absorption in the visible region. The metal doped TiO₂ photocatalyst (with an appropriate amount of V, Zr and Ag) on the Hg‐EDLs increased the degradation efficiency of MCAA in a microwave field. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of Fe<Superscript>3+</Superscript> doping on the performance of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> mechanocoated alumina bead photocatalysts

Ferric ion was introduced to the commercial photocatalyst P25 (Degussa) by ultrasonic wet impregnation technique. The concentration of the dopant was varied from 0.0 to 3.0% Fe/Ti ratio. The doped TiO₂ was then loaded to alumina balls using mechanical coating technique and followed by calcination in air at 400, 450, 500 and 550 °C. The fabricated photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray adsorption near edge structure and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was tested by following the degradation of methylene blue (MB). It was found that the Fe³⁺ doped TiO₂/Al₂O₃ has a combination of anatase and rutile phase and free of iron oxide phases. The optimum calcination temperature is 400 °C with 0.1% Fe³⁺ concentration. The catalyst addresses the entrainment in photocatalytic reactors, eliminating the need for a post filtration process.     

Efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes over titanium dioxide coating upconversion luminescence agent under visible and sunlight irradiation

In order to use the sunlight efficiently, a new titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalyst with high catalytic activity under visible light irradiation was prepared with sol–gel technique. In this work, an upconversion luminescence agent, crystallized Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅O₁₂, was synthesized and its characters were determined. It is found that this crystallized Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅O₁₂ can emit three upconversion fluorescent peaks below 387 nm under the excitation of 488 nm visible light. Hence, this upconversion luminescence agent could transform visible light into ultraviolet light, which could satisfy the genuine requirement of TiO₂ photocatalyst. Additionally, the upconverison mechanisms were also discussed. Meanwhile, the prepared TiO₂ photocatalysts coating upconversion luminescence agent were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photocatalytic activity of prepared TiO₂ powder was tested through the degradation of congo red in aqueous solution as a model compound under visible and sunlight irradiation. To affirm the complete mineralization, the ion chromatography and total organic carbon (TOC) were used to observe the mineralized anions and organic residues. The experimental results proved that the prepared TiO₂ photocatalyst coating crystallized Er³⁺:Y₃Al₅O₁₂ behaved much higher photocatalytic activity under visible light and sunlight irradiation, and was able to decompose the congo red in aqueous solution efficiently. Therefore, this method may be envisaged as a novel technology for treating dyes wastewater using solar energy, especially for textile industries in developing countries.     

Preparation of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> composite oxide and its photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B

The composite semiconductor photocatalyst TiO₂/SiO₂ was prepared by template-hydrothermal method using carbon spheres as the template. The structural and optical properties of TiO₂/SiO₂ were characterized by XRD, SEM, BET, UV–Vis DRS, TG-DTA, PL techniques. The formation of hydroxyl radical on the surface of TiO₂/SiO₂ was studied with terephthalic acid as the probe molecule, combined with fluorescence technique. The results showed that the specific surface area of TiO₂/SiO₂ composite was 327.9 m²/g, and the specific surface area of TiO₂/SiO₂ was larger than that of pure TiO₂. Photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B showed that TiO₂/SiO₂ composite oxide under visible light illumination 40 min, the degradation rate was 98.6 % and the degradation rate of pure TiO₂ was only 11.9 %. The apparent first-order rate constant of TiO₂/SiO₂ was 33 times that of pure TiO₂ and more than 6 times that of P25 when the molar ratio of Ti to Si was 1:1 under visible light irradiation. Moreover, it’s also as much as 5 times that of pure TiO₂ and is more than 1 times that of P25 under UV light irradiation 25 min. Based on the experimental results, ^·O₂ ^? and h⁺ were suggested to be the major active species which was responsible for the degradation reaction. The increased photocatalytic activity of TiO₂/SiO₂ may be mainly attributed to effectively suppressing the recombination of hole/electron pairs. After the photocatalyst TiO₂/SiO₂ was reused 5 times, the degradation rate of rhodamine B could reach 89.2 % under visible light irradiation. Moreover, The composite semiconductor photocatalyst TiO₂/SiO₂ was selective towards the degradation of rhodamine B.     

Preparation and characterization of a novel activated carbon‐supported N‐doped visible light response photocatalyst (TiO2−xNy/AC)

A photocatalyst, TiO_2?xN_y/AC (activated carbon (AC) supported N‐doped TiO₂), highly active in both the Vis and UV range, was prepared by calcination of the TiO₂ precursor prepared by acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis in an ammonia atmosphere. The powders were characterized by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and phenol degradation. The doped N in the TiO₂ crystal lattice creates an electron‐occupied intra‐band gap allowing electron‐hole pair generation under Vis irradiation (500–560 nm). The TiO_2?xN_y/AC exhibited high levels of activity and the same activity trends for phenol degradation under both Vis and UV irradiation: TiO_2?xN_y/AC calcined at 500 °C for 4 h exhibited the highest activity. The band‐gap level newly formed by doped N can act as a center for the photo‐generated holes and is beneficial for the UV activity enhancement. The performance of the prepared TiO_2?xN_y/AC photocatalyst revealed its practical potential in the field of solar photocatalytic degradation of aqueous contaminants. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Facile Preparation of LaFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/rGO Nanocomposites with Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity

The present work demonstrates a facile route for preparing LaFeO₃/rGO nanocomposites comprising of metal oxide nanoparticles and graphene. Structural, morphology, optical and photocatalytic studies of the samples were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, Raman, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetry (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–visible and photocatalytic. LaFeO₃/rGO nanocomposites believed as an effective photocatalyst for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye under visible light irradiation. The inclusion of carbon enhances the light absorption of LaFeO₃, resulting in the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite. The degradation of MO dye under visible light source was completely achieved using LaFeO₃/rGO as a catalyst.     

Preparation and characterization of TiO2 photocatalysts by Fe doping together with Au deposition for the degradation of organic pollutants

Fe³⁺ doped TiO₂ deposited with Au (Au/Fe–TiO₂) was successfully prepared with an attempt to extend light absorption of TiO₂ into the visible region and reduce the rapid recombination of electrons and holes. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ physical adsorption, Raman spectroscopy, atomic absorption flame emission spectroscopy (AAS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated for the degradation of 2,4-chlorophenol in aqueous solutions under visible light (λ > 420 nm) and UV light irradiation. The results of XRD, XPS and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis indicated that Fe³⁺ substituted for Ti⁴⁺ in the lattice of TiO₂, Au existed as Au⁰ on the surface of the photocatalyst and the mean particle size of Au was 8 nm. Diffuse reflectance measurements showed an extension of light absorption into the visible region for Au/Fe–TiO₂, and PL analysis indicated that the electron–hole recombination rate has been effectively inhibited when Au deposited on the surface of Fe-doped TiO₂. Compared with Fe doped TiO₂ sample and Au deposited TiO₂ sample, the Au/Fe–TiO₂ photocatalyst exhibited excellent visible light and UV light activity and the synergistic effects of Fe³⁺ and Au was responsible for improving the photocatalytic activity.     

Synthesis of carbon quantum dots/TiO2 nanocomposite for photo-degradation of Rhodamine B and cefradine

Pure TiO₂ and carbon quantum dots (CQDs)-doped TiO₂ nanocomposite (CQDs/TiO₂ nanocomposite) were prepared by a sol-gel approach for photocatalytic removal of Rhodamine B and cefradine. Analyses by Transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), UV–visible spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) confirmed the successful formation of CQDs/TiO₂ heterostructure. The as-prepared TiO₂ and CQDs/TiO₂ composite possessed small particles, spherical-like shape, and anatase crystal form. Meanwhile, Rhodamine B and cefradine were chosen to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ and CQDs/TiO₂ composite. Results revealed that with the facile decoration of CQDs, the absorption of photocatalyst was extended into visible light region and photocatalytic activity was improved in comparison with pure TiO₂. Furthermore, the mechanism for the improvement of the photocatalytic performance of the composites was discussed on the basis of the results. CQDs play an important role in the photocatalytic process, due to their superior ability to extend the visible absorption and produce more electrons and electron–hole pairs for the degradation of pollutants. In all, the paper offers further insights into the development of CQDs/TiO₂ nanocomposite as photocatalyst for the degradation of antibiotics.     

Photocatalytic Degradation of Polyethylene Plastic with Polypyrrole/TiO2 Nanocomposite as Photocatalyst

The photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene (PE) plastic was carried out directly under the sunlight irradiation with polypyrrole/TiO₂ (PPy/TiO₂) nanocomposite as photocatalyst, which prepared by sol-gel and emulsion polymerization methods. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency was determined by weight loss monitoring, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), atomic force microscopic (AFM) and FT-IR analysis. The photocatalytic degradations of PE plastic with pure TiO₂ and PPy were also investigated and compared with that of PPy/TiO₂. It was noticed that irradiating the PE plastic for 240 h by sunlight reduced its weight up to 35.4% and 54.4% of M _w, respectively. The AFM images showed the formation of cavities on PE plastic surface. FT–IR spectroscopic studies indicated that a strong interaction existed between the interface of PE and PPy/TiO₂ and caused the degradation of PE. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was also discussed briefly.     

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2/SiO2 by the influence of Cu-doping under reducing calcination atmosphere

Cu-doped titania photocatalyst supported on silica beads (Cu-TiO₂/SiO₂) were prepared under different Cu-ion concentration and under different calcination atmosphere. The properties and performance of Cu-TiO₂/SiO₂ were compared with undoped TiO₂/SiO₂ photocatalyst. The effect of Cu-doping and calcination atmosphere on photocatalytic degradation of phenol under both black light and visible light irradiation were investigated, where in both cases the degradation rate of phenol by Cu-doped catalyst prepared under reducing calcination atmosphere was found to be higher than the undoped catalyst or Cu-doped catalyst prepared under air atmosphere. This may be attributed to increase in visible light absorption and lengthening of photogenerated electron–hole pair recombination time. The photocatalytic beads were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and SEM/EDAX analysis.     

Developments in photocatalytic antibacterial activity of nano TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>: A review

TiO₂, which is one of the most explored materials, has emerged as an excellent photocatalyst material for environmental and energy fields, including air and water purification, self-cleaning surfaces, antibacterial and water splitting. This review summarizes recent research developments of TiO₂-based photocatalyst used for photocatalytic antibacterial applications. Several strategies to enhance the efficiency of TiO₂ photocatalyst are discussed, including doping with metal ions, noble metals, non-metals, and coupling with other materials. The mechanism of photocatalytic antibacterial activity in the presence of nano-sized TiO₂ is also discussed. The modified TiO₂ photocatalyst significantly inhibits the growth of bacterial cells in response to visible light illumination. TiO₂ photocatalysis appears to be promising as a route of advanced oxidation process for environmental remediation.     

Preparation of novel nanometer TiO2 catalyst doped with upconversion luminescence agent and investigation on degradation of acid red B dye using visible light

An unreported nanometer TiO₂ photocatalyst doped with upconversion luminescence agent (40CdF₂ · 60BaF₂ · 0.8Er₂O₃) utilizing visible light was prepared. Its photocatalytic activity was checked through the photocatalytic degradation of acid red B as a model compound under visible light irradiation. Results show that the upconversion luminescence agent prepared as dopant can effectively turn visible lights to ultraviolet lights, which can be absorbed by nanometer TiO₂ particles to produce the electron-cavity pairs. Therefore, the photocatalytic ability of this novel TiO₂ photocatalyst has greatly been enhanced compared with undoped and common TiO₂ photocatalyst.     

A novel approach for the synthesis of highly active ZnO/TiO2/Ag2O nanocomposite and its photocatalytic applications

The present work is focused on the preparation of hybrid ZnO/TiO₂/Ag₂O nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic activity. The resultant samples are characterized by using XRD, SEM, EDX, HR-TEM, UV-DRS, BET and XPS techniques. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates the co-existence of wurtzite, anatase and cubic phases in ZnO/TiO₂/Ag₂O nanocomposite. The band gap energy value of the photocatalyst is 3.39 eV, which has been evidenced from UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy measurements. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye has been investigated by using UV–visible spectrophotometer. From the result, it has been concluded that ZnO/TiO₂/Ag₂O nanocomposite has proven to be an efficient photocatalyst under UV irradiation when compared to that of mono and binary oxide systems. Further, the possible photodegradation mechanism is proposed to support the enhancement of photocatalytic activity towards degradation of dyes.     

Ag nanoparticles loaded TiO2/MWCNT ternary nanocomposite: A visible-light-driven photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic performance and stability

A visible light active photocatalyst, Ag/TiO₂/MWCNT was synthesized by loading of Ag nanoparticles onto TiO₂/MWCNT nanocomposite. The photocatalytic activity of Ag/TiO₂/MWCNT ternary nanocomposite was evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue dye under UV and visible light irradiation. Ag/TiO₂/MWCNT ternary nanocomposite exhibits (~9 times) higher photocatalytic activity than TiO₂/MWCNT and (~2 times) higher than Ag/TiO₂ binary nanocomposites under visible light irradiation. The enhancement in the photocatalytic activity is attributed to the synergistic effect between Ag nanoparticles and MWCNT, which enhance the charge separation efficiency by Schottky barrier formation at Ag/TiO₂ interface and role of MWCNT as an electron reservoir. Effect of different scavengers on the degradation of methylene blue dye in the presence of catalyst has been investigated to find the role of photogenerated electrons and holes. Simultaneously, the Ag/TiO₂/MWCNT shows excellent photocatalytic stability. This work highlights the importance of Ag/TiO₂/MWCNT ternary nanocomposite as highly efficient and stable visible-light-driven photocatalyst for the degradation of organic dyes.     

Laser-Induced Silver Nanoparticles on Titanium Oxide for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

Silver nanoparticles doped on titanium oxide (TiO₂) were produced by laser-liquid interaction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) in isopropanol. Characteristics of Ag/TiO₂ (Ag doped TiO₂) nanoparticles produced by the methods presented in this article were investigated by XRD, TEM, SEM, EDX, and UV-Vis. From the UV-Vis measurements, the absorption of visible light of the Ag/TiO₂ photocatalysts was improved (additional absorption at longer wavelength in visible light region) obviously. The photocatalytic efficiency of Ag/TiO₂ was tested by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution. A maximum of 82.3% MB degradation is achieved by 2.0 wt% Ag/TiO₂ photocatalyst under 2 h illumination with a halogen lamp.     

Enhanced visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activities of LiInO2 by Mo6+‐doping strategy

A novel visible‐light‐driven photocatalyst of Mo‐doped LiInO₂ nanocomposite was successfully synthesized through a sol‐gel method. The effect of Mo‐doping concentrations on the microstructures and properties of LiInO₂ was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectra. The photocatalytic properties of the as‐prepared samples were evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible‐light irradiation. The results demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity of 6% Mo‐LiInO₂ reached to 98.6%, which was much higher than that of the undoped photocatalyst LiInO₂ (only 46.8%). The enhanced photocatalytic activity is ascribed to Mo‐doping strategy. The holes play an important role in the process of the photodegradation of MB. The superior photocatalytic activity of the as‐prepared Mo‐LiInO₂ nanocomposites suggests a potential application for organic dye degradation of wastewater remediation. This work provides a further understanding on tailoring the band structure of semiconductor photocatalyst for enhancing visible‐light absorption and promoting electron‐hole separation by Mo‐doping strategy.     

Preparation and characterization of cerium‐doped titanium dioxide/ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene porous composites with excellent photocatalytic activity

Porous ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)‐based composites filled with surface‐modified Ce‐doped TiO₂ nanoparticles (Ce–TiO₂/UHMWPE) were prepared by template dissolution. The composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectra, and scanning electron microscopy); the photocatalytic activity was also evaluated by the decomposition of methyl orange under UV exposure. The results demonstrate that the severe aggregation of Ce–TiO₂ nanoparticles could be reduced by surface modification via a silane coupling agent (KH570). The Ce–TiO₂/UHMWPE porous composites exhibited a uniform pore size. Doping with Ce⁴⁺ effectively extended the spectral response from the UV to the visible region and enhanced the surface hydroxyl groups of the TiO₂ attached to the matrix. With a degradation rate of 85.3%, the 1.5 vol % Ce–TiO₂/UHMWPE sample showed the best photocatalytic activity. The excellent permeability of the porous composites is encouraging for their possible use in wastewater treatment. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Highly visible light responsive metal loaded N/TiO2 nanoparticles for photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into methane

Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable hydrocarbon such as methane (CH₄) using water as reducing agent is a good strategy for environment and energy applications. In this study, a facile and simple sol-gel method was employed for the synthesis of metal (Cu and Ag) loaded nanosized N/TiO₂ photocatalyst. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, BET Surface area analyzer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–vis diffuses reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ into methane was carried out under visible light irradiation (λ≥420 nm) by prepared photocatalysts in order to evaluate the photocatalytic efficiency. The results demonstrate that Ag loaded N/TiO₂ showed enhanced photocatalytic performance for methane production from CO₂ compared to other Cu–N/TiO₂, N/TiO₂ and TiO₂ photocatalysts. The improvement in the photocatalytic activity could be attributed to high specific surface area, extended visible light absorption and suppressed recombination of electron – hole pair due to synergistic effects of silver and nitrogen in the Ag–N/TiO₂ photocatalyst. This study demonstrates that Ag–N/TiO₂ is a promising photocatalytic material for photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ into hydrocarbons under visible light irradiation.