Dye-sensitized TiO2 film with bifunctionalized zones for photocatalytic degradation of 4-cholophenol

A new strategy to photocatalytic degradation of 4-cholophenol (4-CP) under visible light irradiation was described. The TiO₂ film deposited on an ordinary glass sheet was distributed into two zones. One zone was sensitized by N719 dye and fabricated to be a sandwich type cell with a similar structure of dye-sensitized solar cells. The other zone was inserted into pollutants solution for degradation. A highly oxidized overvoltage anode was achieved from the dye-sensitized zone. The bifunctionalized TiO₂ film and the anode could degrade 4-chlorophenol in two separate reactors with 97% and 96% removal of 4-CP after 5 h, respectively. The degradation efficiency could be improved by addition of FeSO₄. The as-prepared bifunctionalized TiO₂ film was comparably stable in the process of degradation.