Surfactant mediated synthesis of spherical binary oxides photocatalytic with enhanced activity in visible light

Spherical silica and zirconia mixed titania and pure titania samples were prepared in presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) through controlled hydrolysis of corresponding metal alcoxides. Effect of surfactant amount and calcinations temperature on morphology, surface area and photocatalytic activity is studied using PXRD, SEM, FTIR, Solid state UV-vis spectroscopy and BET surface area. It is well observed that in presence of 2 mol% CTAB, uniform sized spherical oxide particles can be synthesized. However, increasing or decreasing the surfactant amount does not favor the spherical particle formation. Material synthesis in presence of CTAB not only helps in the spherical particle formation but also increases the surface area and visible light absorption. Studies on photocatalytic lead removal with respect to calcination temperature indicate that the calcination at 500 degrees C is most suitable for the best photocatalytic activity. Mixing of zirconia and silica helps in anatase phase stabilization even at 900 degrees C calcination. Accordingly low decrease in surface area even at 900 degrees C calcination is observed. Due to the phase stabilization and higher surface area binary oxide materials showed comparatively better photocatalytic activity even after calcination at 900 degrees C. So it can be concluded that present synthesis approach can produce uniform sized spherical binary oxide materials with better photocatalytic activity in visible light.     

Control of silica shell thickness and microporosity of titania-silica core-shell type nanoparticles to depress the photocatalytic activity of titania

Titania is of potential interest as an ultraviolet (UV) radiation blocking material in personal care products because of its excellent UV light absorption properties. Its high photocatalytic activity, however, facilitates the generation of reactive oxygen species, which can oxidize and degrade other ingredients during its formulation, raising safety concerns. Dense coating of titania nanoparticles with a silica layer could help in depression of their photocatalytic activity by disturbing the formation of radicals produced by the reaction of oxygen and/or water with the electron-hole pair. Depression of the high photocatalytic activity of titania necessitates that the silica shell has to be thick, with minimum microporosity. Coating parameters were optimized to attain greater amounts of precipitated silica and thicker shells with lower microporosity, which in turn resulted in great depression of photocatalytic activity. Silica-coated titania nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, XPS, FT-IR, EDX, and microporosity measurements. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated for the coated powder to investigate the efficiency of the silica coating as well.     

Influence of Excitation Wavelength (UV or Visible Light) on the Photocatalytic Activity of Titania Containing Gold Nanoparticles for the Generation of Hydrogen or Oxygen from Water

Gold nanoparticles supported on P25 titania (Au/TiO(2)) exhibit photocatalytic activity for UV and visible light (532 nm laser or polychromatic light λ > 400 nm) water splitting. The efficiency and operating mechanism are different depending on whether excitation occurs on the titania semiconductor (gold acting as electron buffer and site for gas generation) or on the surface plasmon band of gold (photoinjection of electrons from gold onto the titania conduction band and less oxidizing electron hole potential of about -1.14 V). For the novel visible light photoactivity of Au/TiO(2), it has been determined that gold loading, particle size and calcination temperature play a role in the photocatalytic activity, the most active material (Φ(H2) = 7.5% and Φ(O2) = 5.0% at 560 nm) being the catalyst containing 0.2 wt % gold with 1.87 nm average particle size and calcined at 200 °C.     

水中硝基酚的纳米TiO_2光催化降解

以主波长254nm的紫外灯作为光源，研究了锐钛型纳米TiO2对邻硝基苯酚、2，4－二硝基苯酚的光催化降解行为，并与普通TiO2作了对比；结果表明，纳米TiO2表现出很高的光催化活性，催化降解过程符合一级动力学规律。     

可见光照射下丙炔光催化水解反应的研究 Ⅱ．钒离子对二氧化钛催化性能的影响

 研究了几种不同粒径的TiO2在CH3CCH和H2O的光催化反应中的催化活性．结果表明,利用离子注入法可以拓展纳米TiO2催化剂的光吸收区域,使其吸收带向可见光方向偏移,且偏移程度随着TiO2粒径的增大而增大;特别是注入V离子使TiO2催化剂在可见光区域具有光催化活性．V离子注入后,TiO2催化剂在紫外区域的光催化活性没有下降,但在可见光区域的光催化活性有所提高．在五种光催化剂中,具有中等粒径大小的P－25注入V离子后表现出最高的光催化活性．在太阳光直接照射下,这些光催化剂也具有较高的催化活性．     

Bismuth-doped ordered mesoporous TiO2: visible-light catalyst for simultaneous degradation of phenol and chromium

A controllable and reproducible synthesis of highly ordered two-dimensional hexagonal mesoporous, crystalline bismuth-doped TiO(2) nanocomposites with variable Bi ratios is reported here. Analyses by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal that the well-ordered mesostructure is doped with Bi, which exists as Bi(3+) and Bi((3+x+)). The Bi-doped mesoporous TiO(2) (ms-TiO(2)) samples exhibit improved photocatalytic activities for simultaneous phenol oxidation and chromium reduction in aqueous suspension under visible and UV light over the pure ms-TiO(2), P-25, and conventional Bi-doped titania. The high catalytic activity is due to both the unique structural characteristics and the Bi doping. This new material extends the spectral response from UV to the visible region, and reduces electron-hole recombination, which renders the 2.0% Bi-doped ms-TiO(2) photocatalyst highly responsive to visible light.     

Preparation and photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation of mesostructured titania particles modified with phthalocyanine in the pores

Mesostructured titania particles modified with phthalocyanine (Pc) were prepared by using molecular self-assemblies of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with solubilized Pc as a template. Low-angle X-ray diffraction pattern and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image clearly show the formation of Pc/titania particles with hexagonal mesopore structures. Diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectrum and fluorescence spectrum of Pc/titania indicate that Pc molecules in the pores are in a monomeric state. In addition, Pc/titania particles have photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation (>610 nm) due to the reduction reaction by the electrons transferred from Pc to titania.     

Effects of calcining temperature on photocatalytic activity of Fe-doped sulfated titania

Using industrial titanyl sulfate as a raw material, Fe‐doped sulfated titania (FST) photocatalysts were prepared by using the one‐step thermal hydrolysis method and characterized using XRD, SEM, TGA–DSC, FTIR, UV–Vis DRS and N₂ adsorption–desorption techniques. The effects of calcining temperature on the structure of the titania were investigated. The photocatalytic activity of the FST was evaluated using the photodegradation of methylene blue and photooxidation of phenol in aqueous solutions under UV and visible light irradiation, respectively. The results evinced that Ti⁴⁺ is substituted by Fe³⁺ in titania lattice and forms impurity level within the band gap of titania, which consequently induces the visible light absorption and visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activity. The synergistic effects of Fe‐doping and sulfation are beneficial to the efficient separation of the photogenerated carriers and also improve the quantum efficiency of photocatalysis. In addition, Brönsted acidity arisen from the strong inductive effect of sulfate is also conducive to enhancing the photocatalytic performance of FST. However, when the calcining temperature is higher than 800°C, sulfur species and surface hydroxyl groups decompose and desorb from FST and the specific surface area decreases sharply. Moreover, severe sintering and rutile phase formation occur simultaneously. All these are detrimental to photocatalytic activity of FST.     

Photocatalytic mechanisms of modified titania under visible light

Heterogeneous photocatalysis with titania under visible light has increasingly been a focus for research. Metal or non-metal doping, surface sensitization, semiconductor coupling, precious metal deposition and increasing crystal defects have been used to enhance the photocatalytic activity of titania under visible light. Based on the research results of different modification methods in recent years, some mechanisms from the excitation, bulk diffusion and surface transfer of photoinduced charge carriers, such as band gap modification, changing the excitation path, promoting the separation of photogenerated charge carrier, improving the surface adsorption and reaction, and synergistic effects, for photocatalysis under visible light are discussed and the development trend in this field is predicted.     

硫和银共掺杂介孔TiO2的制备表征及光催化活性

以P123为模板,以钛酸四正丁酯、硝酸银和硫脲为原料采用模板法制备了一系列硫和银共掺杂介孔TiO2光催化材料。利用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、X射线衍射（XRD）、BET和紫外-可见光谱（UV-Vis）等技术对其形貌、晶体结构及表面结构、光吸收特性等进行了表征。以甲基橙溶液的光催化降解为模型反应, 考察了不同掺杂量的样品在紫外和可见光下的光催化性能。结果表明：用模板法制备的共掺杂介孔TiO2光催化材料在紫外和可见光条件下较纯介孔TiO2和单掺杂介孔TiO2对甲基橙溶液具有更好的光催化降解效果, 且硫和银的掺杂量及样品焙烧温度显著影响该材料的催化性能。当硫掺杂量为2%（mol）和银掺杂量为1%（mol）,在500℃焙烧2 h所得光催化材料的催化性能最佳, 4 h即可使甲基橙的降解率达98.8%,重复使用4次仍可使甲基橙的降解率保持在87.5%以上。因此, 以该模板合成法, 通过硫和银的共掺杂有望使TiO2成为一种低或无能耗、高活性的绿色环保型催化材料。     

Preparation of Ce-TiO2 catalysts by controlled hydrolysis of titanium alkoxide based on esterification reaction and study on its photocatalytic activity

The Ce-TiO2 catalysts were prepared by controlled hydrolysis of Ti(OC(4)H(9))(4) with water generated "in situ" via an esterification reaction between acetic acid and ethanol, followed by hydrothermal treatment. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic absorption flame emission spectroscopy (AAS), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption methods. Both of undoped TiO2 and Ce-TiO2 samples exclusively consist of primary anatase crystallites, which further form spherical aggregates with diameters ranging from 100 to 500 nm. The photocatalytic activity of Ce-TiO2 was investigated for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RB) aqueous solution both under UV and visible light irradiation. Doping of Ce(4+) effectively improves the photocatalytic activity under both UV light irradiation and visible light irradiation with an optimal doping concentration of 0.2 and 0.4%, respectively. The photocatalytic mechanisms of Ce-TiO2 catalysts were tentatively discussed.     

Optimized design of novel Pt decorated 3D BiOBr flower-microsphere synthesis for highly efficient photocatalytic properties

3D BiOBr flower-microspheres decorated with small amount (0.02–0.5 wt%) of Pt nanoparticles were successfully prepared via new electrostatic-adsorption-assisted light-reduction route. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, EDS, XPS, UV–Vis DRS, PL, and photocurrent measurements. The photocatalytic activities were tested through the photocatalytic degradation of Bisphenol A (BPA) under visible light (420 nm?<?λ?<?680 nm) and simulated sunlight (320 nm?<?λ?<?680 nm) irradiation. The results indicate that Pt loading do not change the structural morphologies and particle sizes of BiOBr flower-microspheres, but there exists an enhanced photocurrent effect, greatly achieving the highly efficient photocatalytic activity of BiOBr under visible-light and simulated sunlight irradiation. 0.2 wt% Pt/BiOBr sample reveals the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation on BPA with almost 92% under 10 min, much better than pure BiOBr and (P25) TiO₂. The presence of synergistic effect between Pt⁴⁺ and Pt⁰ has vital impact on the electron capture and transfer from the semiconductor to noble metal, preventing the fast electron/hole recombination and participating in the multi-electron reduction of O₂, and, consequently, achieving the formation of effective photocatalytic active species. Our findings should provide the fundamental data for making further research efforts in the hot topic on the monatomic Pt-modified photocatalyst systems.     

Extending photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles to visible region of illumination by doping of cerium

Cerium-doped Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanoparticles are prepared by sol-gel method. Doping shifts the UV absorption edge of TiO(2) to the visible region, making it efficient for visible light photocatalysis. Incorporation of cerium decreases the effective band gap of TiO(2) and increases the Urbach energy levels. At the dopant concentrations of 0.015 and 0.025 mol the luminescence intensity increases compared to undoped TiO(2); however, the luminescence is quenched at 0.035 mol. Quenching of luminescence indicates efficient separation of charge carriers. Undoped TiO(2) is showing poor performance in the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under visible light. However, on cerium doping its photoactivity is increased, and is drastically enhanced at 0.035 mol of cerium. Further increase in Ce(3+) doping level to 0.045 mol results in the reduction of the photodegradation of the dye. On UV irradiation, entire samples show good photocatalytic activity up to 30 min, but their efficiency decreases when irradiation time is increased to 45 min. Irradiation for longer time results in negative charging of the TiO(2) surface with migrating electrons. The negatively charged surface repels the OH(-) ion and O(2) molecule from adsorbing on its surface thus decreasing the availability of hydroxyl and superoxide radical for dye degradation.     

Ball-milled synthesis of maize biochar-ZnO nanocomposite (MB-ZnO) and estimation of its photocatalytic ability against different organic and inorganic pollutants

Different industrial and agricultural practices release a variety of dyes and pesticides in soil and water. Degradation of these pollutants is very important to avoid health and environmental issues. In this study, the photocatalysis technique has been optimized and adopted to degrade organic and inorganic pollutants. First of all, biochar with distinctive physicochemical properties, like high specific surface, highly carbonaceous property, and the electron-conductive nature was prepared in a vacuum furnace from maize straw. These properties depicted the effective absorbance ability of prepared biochar. Using a solvent-free ball-milling method, ZnO loaded maize biochar nanocomposite (MB-ZnO) was synthesized from this biochar and used as a photocatalyst to degrade aqueous pollutants, under different light sources. The adsorption and photocatalytic activity of MB-ZnO was assessed against Safranin O (Saf) and Mancozeb (MC) within a closed system using different light conditions including dark, UV and visible light. To understand the mechanism of Saf and MC removal from aqueous solution, reaction kinetics was calculated according to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. MB-ZnOcomposite exhibited variable photocatalytic performances to degrade Saf under visible light (83.5%), UV radiations (81.0%) and dark conditions (78%) in 60 min. Similarly, maximum MC degradation by MB-ZnO nanocomposite was exhibited in visible light (56.5%), followed by UV radiations (27.5 %) and dark conditions (25.2%). The findings of this study concluded that MB-ZnO nanocomposite can be used as an excellent catalyst to remove aqueous pollutants, under both light and dark conditions.     

Titania supported gold nanoparticles as photocatalyst

This Perspective is focused on the photocatalytic activity of gold nanoparticles supported on titania (Au/TiO(2)). Titania is the most widely used photocatalyst, but its limited activity under visible light irradiation has motivated the quest for modified titania materials absorbing visible light. The review starts by justifying how doping with metallic elements is a related strategy, but different, to that leading to the use of Au/TiO(2) in photocatalysis. Data supporting and confirming the photoactivity of gold nanoparticles in colloidal solutions are briefly presented to justify the possibility of gold photosensitization of titania by electron injection into the conduction band. After describing the most common procedures used to prepare Au/TiO(2), the central part of this article is focused on the photocatalytic activity reported for Au/TiO(2) for hydrogen generation, dye decoloration, phenol decomposition and carboxylic acid degradation, among other processes. Emphasis is given to the role that parameters like Au loading, particle size, surface area, spatial structuring and others play on the photocatalytic activity. One important issue has been to distinguish those reports using visible light from those other in which direct titania excitation by UV light has been used. These Au/TiO(2) photocatalysts can find real applications in the near future for environmental remediation and for hydrogen generation.     

Ag/TiO2光催化还原硝酸氮

利用化学还原法制备不同Ag掺杂量TiO₂纳米催化剂,采用TEM、XRD、XRF和UV-Vis对催化剂进行表征。考察了催化剂在紫外光(254 nm)和可见光照射下还原初始浓度100 mgN·L^-1水相硝酸氮的活性和效果。重点考察了紫外光照射下Ag掺杂量、不同空穴捕获剂(甲酸、甲醇、乙酸、乙醇、草酸、草酸钠等)及甲酸浓度对硝酸氮还原的影响;对硝酸氮转化率和总氮去除率、形成亚硝酸氮、氨氮浓度及氮气选择性的影响。甲酸浓度为0.030 mol·L^-1、Ag掺杂量为1.0wt%时催化剂效果最佳。此时,硝酸氮、总氮的转化率分别为98.43%、78.13%;亚硝酸氮浓度为零,转化的硝酸氮中只有20.76%转化为氨氮,氮气选择性为79.24%。可见光下进行光催化还原反应时,硝酸氮转化率仅37.98%,但氮气的选择性较高。     

Cu-grafted TiO2 photocatalysts: effect of Cu on the action spectrum of composite materials

This paper describes a simple technique for the modification of titania with copper to enhance its photocatalytic performance. In addition to the absorption of UV light resulted in band-to-band excitation of electrons, TiO₂ grafted with copper species absorbs radiation in the visible region of spectrum, and it is able to completely oxidize volatile organic pollutants both under UV and visible light. The action spectra of pristine and Cu-grafted TiO₂ photocatalysts are measured and discussed to elucidate the reasons for appearance of the activity under visible light.     

Fabrication of hydroxyl group modified monodispersed hybrid silica particles and the h-SiO(2)/TiO(2) core/shell microspheres as high performance photocatalyst for dye degradation

The monodisperse hybrid silica particles (h-SiO(2)) were firstly prepared by a modified sol-gel process and the surface was modified in situ with double bonds, then abundant carboxyl moieties were introduced onto the surface of the silica core via thiol-ene click reaction. Afterward, the h-SiO(2)/TiO(2) core/shell microspheres were prepared by hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide (TBOT) via sol-gel process in mixed ethanol/acetonitrile solvent, in which the activity of TBOT could be easily controlled. The carboxyl groups on the surface of silica particles promote the formation of a dense and smooth titania layer under well control, and the layer thickness of titania could be tuned from 12 to 100nm. The well-defined h-SiO(2)/TiO(2) core/shell structures have been confirmed by electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies. After calcination at 500°C for 2h, the amorphous TiO(2) layer turned into anatase titania. These anatase titania-coated silica particles showed good photocatalytic performance in degradation of methyl orange aqueous solution under UV light.     

Photocatalytic activity enhancement in doped titanium dioxide by crystal defects

Visible light sensitive Fe(3+) and Ce(4+) co-doped nano TiO(2) photocatalyst has been prepared by a modified aqueous sol-gel method and the activity has been measured in terms of degradation of MB dye. Both dopants shifted the absorption profile of TiO(2) to the visible region and improved activity. Fe(3+) ions trapped the charge carriers due to the stable electronic configuration and improved their separation. Ce(4+) ions, which were mainly located at the grain boundaries, cause dislocations by bending the valence and conduction bands of TiO(2) and prevent the recombination of photoexcited electrons and holes. The co-doped TiO(2) compositions exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure titania and commercially available Degussa P25 under visible light by utilising the individual and synergistic contributions of Fe(3+) and Ce(4+) dopants, respectively.     

Plasmonic photocatalytic system using silver chloride/silver nanostructures under visible light

Plasmonic photocatalytic nanostructured system was investigated on silver chloride/silver nanoparticles under visible light. Silver chloride/silver nanoparticles were readily prepared using dispersing agent and light irradiation. The d-spacing analysis, high resolution-transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy demonstrated that silver nanoparticles were introduced on the surface of silver chloride nanoparticles and then silver chloride/silver nanostructured photocatalytic materials were successfully synthesized. The as-synthesized plasmonic photocatalysts exhibited the enhanced photocatalytic performance over nitrogen-doped titania nanomaterials. The improved catalytic activity was originated from the enhanced adsorption for visible light, electron–hole separation, and the formation of chloride atoms in silver chloride/silver nanostructured materials.