Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Thienyl-Porphyrins-TiO2 for Degradation of 4-Nitrophenol

5‐Mono‐(2‐thienyl)‐10,15,20‐triphenyl porphyrin (H₂MTP) and its Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) metalloporphyrins (CoMTP, CuMTP, ZnMTP) were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. The corresponding Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) metalloporphyrins‐TiO₂ photocatalysts were then prepared and characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), UV‐vis spectra and FT‐IR. The photocatalytic activities of these photocatalysts were investigated by testing the photodegradation of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) in aqueous solution under irradiation with high‐pressure mercury lamp and metal halide lamp respectively. The results indicated that these metalloporphyrins greatly enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency of bare TiO₂ in degradating the 4‐NP, and CuMTP‐TiO₂ exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity of all photocatalysts. In addition, the first order rate constants of these photocatalytic reactions were calculated.