Synthesis of W‐doped TiO2 by low‐temperature hydrolysis: Effects of annealing temperature and doping content on the surface microstructure and photocatalytic activity

A series of tungsten‐doped Titania photocatalysts were synthesized using a low‐temperature method. The effects of dopant concentration and annealing temperature on the phase transitions, crystallinity, electronic, optical, and photocatalytic properties of the resulting material were studied. The X‐ray patterns revealed that the doping delays the transition of anatase to rutile to a high temperature. A new phase W_yTi_1‐yO₂ appeared for 5.00 wt% W‐TiO₂ annealed at 900 °C. Raman and diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy showed that band gap values decreased slightly up to 700 °C. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that surface species viz. Ti³⁺, Ti⁴⁺, O^2?, oxygen‐vacancies, and adsorbed OH groups vary depending on the preparation conditions. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated via the degradation of methylene blue using LED white light. The degradation rate was affected by the percentage of dopants. The best photocatalytic activity was achieved with the sample labeled 5.00 wt% W‐TiO₂ annealed at 700 °C.     

Enhanced visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activity of F doped reduced graphene oxide ‐ Bi2WO6 photocatalyst

The reduced graphene oxide‐Bi₂WO₆ (rGO‐BWO) photocatalysts with the different R_F/O values (molar ratio of the F molar mass and the O's molar mass of Bi₂WO₆) had been successfully synthesized via one‐step hydrothermal method. The F‐doped rGO‐BWO samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction patterns (XRD), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐ESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (BET), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The results indicate that F^? ions had been successfully doped into rGO‐BWO samples. With the increasing of the R_F/O values from 0 to 2%, the evident change of the morphology and the absorption edges of F‐doped rGO‐BWO samples and the photocatalytic activities had been enhanced. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of F‐doped rGO‐BWO with R_F/O = 0.05 were better than rGO‐BWO and the other F‐doped rGO‐BWO under 500 W Xe lamp light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the morphology of the intact microsphere that signify the bigger specific surface area for providing more possible reaction sites for the adsorption–desorption equilibrium of photocatalytic reaction, the introduction of F^? ions that may cause the enhancement of surface acidity and creation of oxygen vacancies under visible light irradiation, the narrower band gap which means needing less energy for the electron hole pair transition.     

Correlation of the Catalytic Activity for Oxidation Taking Place on Various TiO2 Surfaces with Surface OH Groups and Surface Oxygen Vacancies

Three catalytic oxidation reactions have been studied: The ultraviolet (UV) light induced photocatalytic decomposition of the synthetic dye sulforhodamine B (SRB) in the presence of TiO₂ nanostructures in water, together with two reactions employing Au/TiO₂ nanostructure catalysts, namely, CO oxidation in air and the decomposition of formaldehyde under visible light irradiation. Four kinds of TiO₂ nanotubes and nanorods with different phases and compositions were prepared for this study, and gold nanoparticle (Au‐NP) catalysts were supported on some of these TiO₂ nanostructures (to form Au/TiO₂ catalysts). FTIR emission spectroscopy (IES) measurements provided evidence that the order of the surface OH regeneration ability of the four types of TiO₂ nanostructures studied gave the same trend as the catalytic activities of the TiO₂ nanostructures or their respective Au/TiO₂ catalysts for the three oxidation reactions. Both IES and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) proved that anatase TiO₂ had the strongest OH regeneration ability among the four types of TiO₂ phases or compositions. Based on these results, a model for the surface OH group generation, absorption, and activation of molecular oxygen has been proposed: The oxygen vacancies at the bridging O^2? sites on TiO₂ surfaces dissociatively absorb water molecules to form OH groups that facilitate adsorption and activation of O₂ molecules in nearby oxygen vacancies by lowering the absorption energy of molecular O₂. A new mechanism for the photocatalytic formaldehyde decomposition with the Au/TiO₂ catalysts is also proposed, based on the photocatalytic activity of the Au‐NPs under visible light. The Au‐NPs absorb the light owing to the surface plasmon resonance effect and mediate the electron transfers that the reaction needs.     

Template‐free Fabrication of Hierarchical Macro‐/mesoporous N‐doped TiO2/graphene Oxide Composites with Enhanced Visible‐light Photocatalytic Activity

Hierarchical macro‐/mesoporous N‐doped TiO₂/graphene oxide (N‐TiO₂/GO) composites were prepared without using templates by the simple dropwise addition mixed solution of tetrabutyl titanate and ethanol containg graphene oxide (GO) to the ammonia solution, and then calcined at 350 °C. The as‐prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV‐Vis absorption spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange in an aqueous solution under visible‐light irradiation. The results show that N‐TiO₂/GO composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity. GO content exhibited an obvious influence on photocatalytic performance, and the optimal GO addition content was 1 wt%. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the synergetic effects of three factors including the improved visible light absorption, the hierarchical macro‐mesoporous structure, and the efficient charge separation by GO.     

Synthesis of Bi-doped TiO2 Nanotubes and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution from Glycerol Solution

Bi‐doped TiO₂ nanotubes with variable Bi/Ti ratios were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment in 10 mol·L^?1 NaOH (aq.) through using Bi‐doped TiO₂ particles derived from conventional sol‐gel method as starting materials. The effects of Bi content on the morphology, textural properties, photo absorption and photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ nanotubes were investigated. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) observations of the obtained samples revealed the formation of titanate nanotube structure doped with Bi, which exists as a higher oxidation state than Bi³⁺. Bi‐doping TiO₂ nanotubes exhibited an extension of light absorption into the visible region and improved photocatalytic activities for hydrogen production from a glycerol/water mixed solution as compared with pure TiO₂ nanotubes. There was an optimal Bi‐doped content for the photocatalytic hydrogen production, and high content of Bi would retard the phase transition of titanate to anatase and result in morphology change from nanotube to nanobelt, which in turn decreases the photocatlytic activity for hydrogen evolution.     

Improved Photocatalytic Activity and Stability of Nano‐sized Ag/Ag2CO3 Plasmonic Photocatalyst by Surface Modification of Fe(III) Nanocluster

The surface modification of Ag/Ag₂CO₃ with Fe(III) ions has been achieved through simply photoreduction‐impregnation method. The obtained products were characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy. Under visible‐light irradiation (γ>420 nm), the Fe(III)/Ag/Ag₂CO₃ sample displays a higher photocatalytic activity and stability than pure Ag₂CO₃ and Ag/Ag₂CO₃ samples for the degradation of methyl orange (MO). The improved photocatalytic activity and stability of this ternary system could be ascribed to the synergetic effect between Ag nanoparticles and Fe(III) nanocluster. The metallic Ag nanoparticles cause an obviously enhanced visible‐light absorption to produce more photogenerated charges, while the Fe(III) works as an active site for the following oxygen reduction to reduce the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes.     

Dye degradation studies of Mo‐doped TiO2 thin films developed by reactive sputtering

TiO₂ thin films with various Mo concentrations have been deposited on glass and n‐type silicon (100) substrates by this radio‐frequency (RF) reactive magnetron sputtering at 400°C substrate temperature. The crystal structure, surface morphology, composition, and elemental oxidation states of the films have been analyzed by using X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. Ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy has been used to investigate the degradation, transmittance, and absorption properties of doped and undoped TiO₂ films. The photocatalytic degradation activity of the films was evaluated by using methylene blue under a light intensity of 100 mW cm⁻². The X‐ray diffraction patterns show the presence of anatase phase of TiO₂ in the developed films. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies have confirmed that Mo is present only as Mo⁶⁺ ions in all films. The Mo/TiO₂ band gap decreases from ~3.3 to 3.1 eV with increasing Mo dopant concentrations. Dye degradation of ~60% is observed in Mo/TiO₂ samples, which is much higher than that of pure TiO₂.     

Morphology‐controlled Electrodeposition of Copper Nanospheres onto FTO for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Using CuSO₄ as the copper source, nanostructured copper with four different morphologies was obtained by electrodeposition method on FTO substrates. The as‐synthesized Cu/FTO samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Raman, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of electrodeposition potential and electrodeposition time on the Cu/FTO samples and the photocatalytic performance were investigated systematically. The results showed that the Cu/FTO samples were well‐crystallized and the morphologies could be changed from nanoslices to nanodendrites structure with the negative shift of the depositing potential. The electrodeposition potential and time have a significant effect on the amount of H₂ evolution. The obtained Cu nanospheres which were prepared at the potential of −0.65 V for 600 s showed the best photocatalytic behavior. The mechanisms for the photocatalytic activities were also discussed.     

Microwave‐Hydrothermal Preparation and Visible‐Light Photoactivity of Plasmonic Photocatalyst Ag‐TiO2 Nanocomposite Hollow Spheres

Visible‐light‐driven plasmonic photocatalyst Ag‐TiO₂ nanocomposite hollow spheres are prepared by a template‐free chemically‐induced self‐transformation strategy under microwave‐hydrothermal conditions, followed by a photochemical reduction process under xenon lamp irradiation. The prepared samples are characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption‐desorption isotherms, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV/Vis and Raman spectroscopy. Production of ?OH radicals on the surface of visible‐light illuminated TiO₂ was detected by using a photoluminescence method with terephthalic acid as the probe molecule. The photocatalytic activity of as‐prepared samples was evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of Rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution at ambient temperature under visible‐light irradiation. The results show that the surface plasmon absorption band of the silver nanoparticles supported on the TiO₂ hollow spheres was red shifted, and a strong surface enhanced Raman scattering effect for the Ag‐TiO₂ nanocomposite sample was observed. The prepared nanocomposite hollow spheres exhibits a highly visible‐light photocatalytic activity for photocatalytic degradation of RhB in water, and their photocatalytic activity is higher than that of pure TiO₂ and commercial Degussa P25 (P25) powders. Especially, the as‐prepared Ag‐TiO₂ nanocomposite hollow spheres at the nominal atomic ratio of silver to titanium ( R ) of 2 showed the highest photocatalytic activity, which exceeds that of P25 by a factor of more than 2.     

钯氮共掺杂TiO2的制备与表征及其可见光催化活性

在空气气氛和N₂中热处理表面均匀分散有尿素和氯化钯的纳米管钛酸,制备了两个系列Pd/N共掺杂的TiO₂光催化剂,并对所得样品进行了X射线衍射、透射电镜、X射线光电子能谱、紫外-可见漫反射光谱、荧光光谱和电子自旋共振等表征.结果表明,焙烧气氛对样品的形貌、晶体结构、光谱吸收、生成的氧空位浓度和可见光光催化性能的影响很大,其中在空气气氛中制备的样品光催化性能优于在N₂中制备的样品.在可见光(λ≥420nm)照射下,以丙烯为模型污染物考察了样品的光催化活性,发现在空气中400℃下焙烧的样品具有最佳的可见光催化活性.另外,讨论了Pd/N共掺杂TiO₂光催化剂具有可见光响应的机理,认为掺杂的Pd/N元素和制备过程中生成的氧空位是影响可见光催化性能的重要因素.     

Samarium and Nitrogen Co‐Doped Bi2WO6 Photocatalysts: Synergistic Effect of Sm3+/Sm2+ Redox Centers and N‐Doped Level for Enhancing Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity

Samarium and nitrogen co‐doped Bi₂WO₆ nanosheets were successfully synthesized by using a hydrothermal method. The crystal structures, morphology, elemental compositions, and optical properties of the prepared samples were investigated. The incorporation of samarium and nitrogen ions into Bi₂WO₆ was proved by X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicated that the samarium and nitrogen co‐doped Bi₂WO₆ possessed strong visible‐light absorption. Remarkably, the samarium and nitrogen co‐doped Bi₂WO₆ exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than single‐doped and pure Bi₂WO₆ under visible‐light irradiation. Radical trapping experiments indicated that holes (h⁺) and superoxide radicals ( ^. O₂^?) were the main active species. The results of photoluminescence spectroscopy and photocurrent measurements demonstrated that the recombination rate of the photogenerated electrons and holes pairs was greatly depressed. The enhanced activity was attributed to the synergistic effect of the in‐built Sm³⁺/Sm²⁺ redox pair centers and the N‐doped level. The mechanism of the excellent photocatalytic activity of Sm‐N‐Bi₂WO₆ is also discussed.     

Efficient Noble‐Metal‐Free γ‐Fe2O3@NiO Core–Shell Nanostructured Photocatalysts for Water Oxidation

Flowerlike noble‐metal‐free γ‐Fe₂O₃@NiO core–shell hierarchical nanostructures have been fabricated and examined as a catalyst in the photocatalytic oxidation of water with [Ru(bpy)₃](ClO₄)₂ as a photosensitizer and Na₂S₂O₈ as a sacrificial electron acceptor. An apparent TOF of 0.29 μmols^?1 m^?2 and oxygen yield of 51 % were obtained with γ‐Fe₂O₃@NiO. The γ‐Fe₂O₃@NiO core–shell hierarchical nanostructures could be easily separated from the reaction solution whilst maintaining excellent water‐oxidation activity in the fourth and fifth runs. The surface conditions of γ‐Fe₂O₃@NiO also remained unchanged after the photocatalytic reaction, as confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).     

Photodegradation of Rhodamine B on Sulfur Doped ZnO/TiO2 Nanocomposite Photocatalyst under Visible-light Irradiation

Sulfur doped ZnO/TiO₂ nanocomposite photocatalysts were synthesized by a facile sol‐gel method. The structure and properties of catalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV‐vis diffusive reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and N₂ desorption‐adsorption isotherm. The XRD study showed that TiO₂ was anatase phase and there was no obvious difference in crystal composition of various S‐ZnO/TiO₂. The XPS study showed that the Zn element exists as ZnO and S atoms form SO^2?₄. The prepared samples had mesoporosity revealed by N₂ desorption‐adsorption isotherm result. The degradation of Rhodamine B dye under visible light irradiation was chosen as probe reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO/TiO₂ nanocomposite. The commercial TiO₂ photocatalyst (Degussa P25) was taken as standard photocatalyst to contrast the prepared different photocatalyst in current work. The improvement of the photocatalytic activity of S‐ZnO/TiO₂ composite photocatalyst can be attributed to the suitable energetic positions between ZnO and TiO₂, the acidity site caused by sulfur doping and the enlargement of the specific area. S‐3.0ZnO/TiO₂ exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation after Zn amount was optimized, which was 2.6 times higher than P25.     

Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity and Deactivation Mechanism of Ag3PO4 Spherical Particles

Ag₃PO₄ spherical particles were synthesized by a facile precipitation method using silver nitrate and Na₂HPO₄ as precursors. The as‐prepared samples had a high photocatalytic activity toward Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under visible‐light illumination. With increasing recycling times the photocatalytic activity first increased and then decreased. Based on systematic characterization of particles by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a possible mechanism responsible for the improvement and subsequent decline of the photocatalytic performance of Ag₃PO₄ is proposed. Ag₃PO₄ spherical particles recycled for four times showed the highest photocatalytic activity because, according to our mechanism, Ag nanoparticles deposited on Ag₃PO₄ acted as electron trapping centers to prevent photogenerated electron‐hole pairs from recombination. A further increase in the recycle times decreases the photocatalytic activity owing to the shielding effect by Ag layers on the surface of Ag₃PO₄. The results presented herein shed new light on the photostability of Ag₃PO₄ spherical particles and are potentially applicable to other photocatalytically active composites.     

Surface Engineering of g‐C3N4 by Stacked BiOBr Sheets Rich in Oxygen Vacancies for Boosting Photocatalytic Performance

BiOBr containing surface oxygen vacancies (OVs) was prepared by a simple solvothermal method and combined with graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) to construct a heterojunction for photocatalytic oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) and reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂). The formation of the heterojunction enhanced the transfer and separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. Furthermore, the surface OVs sufficiently exposed catalytically active sites, and enabled capture of photoexcited electrons at the surface of the catalyst. Internal recombination of photogenerated charges was also limited, which contributed to generation of more active oxygen for NO oxidation. Heterojunction and OVs worked together to form a spatial conductive network framework, which achieved 63 % NO removal, 96 % selectivity for carbonaceous products (that is, CO and CH₄). The stability of the catalyst was confirmed by cycling experiments and X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy after NO removal.     

Noble Metals Can Have Different Effects on Photocatalysis Over Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs): A Case Study on M/NH2‐MIL‐125(Ti) (M=Pt and Au)

M‐doped NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) (M=Pt and Au) were prepared by using the wetness impregnation method followed by a treatment with H₂ flow. The resultant samples were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses, N₂‐sorption BET surface area, and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic reaction carried out in saturated CO₂ with triethanolamine (TEOA) as sacrificial agent under visible‐light irradiations showed that the noble metal‐doping on NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) promoted the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Unlike that over pure NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti), in which only formate was produced, both hydrogen and formate were formed over Pt‐ and Au‐loaded NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti). However, Pt and Au have different effects on the photocatalytic performance for formate production. Compared with pure NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti), Pt/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) showed an enhanced activity for photocatalytic formate formation, whereas Au has a negative effect on this reaction. To elucidate the origin of the different photocatalytic performance, electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out over M/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti).The photocatalytic mechanisms over M/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) (M=Pt and Au) were proposed. For the first time, the hydrogen spillover from the noble metal Pt to the framework of NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) and its promoting effect on the photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is revealed. The elucidation of the mechanism on the photocatalysis over M/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) can provide some guidance in the development of new photocatalysts based on MOF materials. This study also demonstrates the potential of using noble metal‐doped MOFs in photocatalytic reactions involving hydrogen as a reactant, like hydrogenation reactions.     

具有高光催化活性的黑色TiO2（B）/锐钛矿双晶TiO2-x纳米纤维

高效TiO2基光催化材料的开发一直是催化领域的研究热点,主要的策略是如何有效地分离光生载流子.制备多晶相的TiO2材料可引入异质/相结结构使电子与空穴朝不同方向移动,从而避免电子与空穴复合;另外,在TiO2中掺杂其他金属或非金属也可以有效地降低电子与空穴的复合率,掺杂的元素作为电子捕获阱俘获光生电子,以实现电子空穴的有效分离.近些年,作为一种全新的掺杂剂,氧空穴可以有效改善TiO2的光催化活性,所制TiO2具有可见光的全光谱吸收能力,因此该类TiO2呈现出黑色.通过上述方法均可以制备出高活性TiO2基光催化材料,如果能够将这些方法耦合一起,则可能制备出活性更高的光催化剂.因此,本文将异相结结构和空穴掺杂耦合起来,用多孔钛酸盐衍生物在H2中高温焙烧制得一种全新的黑色TiO2(B)/锐钛矿双晶TiO2–x纳米纤维.不同于其他TiO2基光催化材料,该样品仅由Ti和O元素组成,通过Ti和O元素的组合,形成了双晶结构和空穴掺杂两种特殊的结构,借助场发射(FESEM)、拉曼光谱(Raman)、氮气物理吸脱附、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、热重(TG)、紫外可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis)和荧光光谱(PL)等表征分析了样品的结构及其光催化性能间构效关系. FESEM结果显示,黑色TiO2(B)/锐钛矿双晶TiO2–x为长1–5mm、宽0.2mm的纤维结构, Raman结果表明,锐钛矿相在特征波段(140 cm–1左右)和TiO2(B)的特征波段(220–260 cm–1)均发生蓝移,说明该两相中均存在氧空穴;该样表面未检测到Ti3+,因此氧空穴可能分散在TiO2(B)和锐钛矿相的体相中.根据黑色TiO2(B)/锐钛矿双晶TiO2–x和白色TiO2(B)/锐钛矿双晶TiO2的失重差,估算出前者的O/Ti原子比为1.97.光催化降解甲基橙实验结果显示,黑色TiO2(B)/锐钛矿双晶TiO2–x的光催化活性是白色双晶TiO2的4.2倍,锐钛矿TiO2的10.5倍,且连续反应10次后未出现失活现象,显示出了良好的光催化稳定性.前期,我们已经证明了白色TiO2(B)/锐钛矿双晶TiO2由于具有TiO2(B)和锐钛矿的异相结结构,致使其电子空穴有效地分离,从而表现出优异的光催化活性;本文的PL结果显示,由于氧空穴的引入,异相结与氧空穴两者共同作用,进一步促进了黑色TiO2(B)/锐钛矿双晶TiO2–x电子与空穴的有效分离,因此黑色TiO2(B)/锐钛矿双晶TiO2–x表现出高的光催化活性.由于其特殊的结构,黑色TiO2(B)/锐钛矿双晶TiO2–x纳米纤维将在环境与能源领域表现出良好的应用前景.     

Facile Synthesis of Thermal‐ and Photostable Titania with Paramagnetic Oxygen Vacancies for Visible‐Light Photocatalysis

A novel dopant‐free TiO₂ photocatalyst (V_o^.‐TiO₂), which is self‐modified by a large number of paramagnetic (single‐electron‐trapped) oxygen vacancies, was prepared by calcining a mixture of a porous amorphous TiO₂ precursor, imidazole, and hydrochloric acid at elevated temperature (450 °C) in air. Control experiments demonstrate that the porous TiO₂ precursor, imidazole, and hydrochloric acid are all necessary for the formation of V_o^.‐TiO₂. Although the synthesis of V_o^.‐TiO₂ originates from such a multicomponent system, this synthetic approach is facile, controllable, and reproducible. X‐ray diffraction, XPS, and EPR spectroscopy reveal that the V_o^.‐TiO₂ material with a high crystallinity embodies a mass of paramagnetic oxygen vacancies, and is free of other dopant species such as nitrogen and carbon. UV/Vis diffuse‐reflectance spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical measurement demonstrate that V_o^.‐TiO₂ is a stable visible‐light‐responsive material with photogenerated charge separation efficiency higher than N‐TiO₂ and P25 under visible‐light irradiation. The V_o^.‐TiO₂ material exhibits not only satisfactory thermal‐ and photostability, but also superior photocatalytic activity for H₂ evolution (115 μmol h^?1 g^?1) from water with methanol as sacrificial reagent under visible light (λ>400 nm) irradiation. Furthermore, the effects of reaction temperature, ratio of starting materials (imidazole:TiO₂ precursor) and calcination time on the photocatalytic activity and the microstructure of V_o^.‐TiO₂ were elucidated.     

Micelle‐Directing Synthesis of Ag‐Doped WO3 and MoO3 Composites for Photocatalytic Water Oxidation and Organic‐Dye Adsorption

In this paper, an Ag‐doped WO₃ (and MoO₃) composite has been prepared by following a simple micelle‐directed method and high‐temperature sintering route. The as‐prepared samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The photocatalytic experiments reveal that their oxygen‐production rates are up to 95.43 μmol (75.45 μmol) for Ag‐doped WO₃ (MoO₃), which is 9.5 (7.3) times higher than that of pure WO₃: 9.012 μmol (MoO₃: 9.00 μmol) under visible‐light illumination (λ ≥420 nm), respectively. The improvement of their photocatalytic activity is attributed to the enhancement of their visible‐light absorption and the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers by Ag doping. Moreover, Ag‐doped WO₃ (MoO₃) also shows excellent adsorption of rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution, with maximum adsorption capacities towards RhB and MB of 822 and 820 mg g⁻¹ for Ag‐doped WO₃, and 642 and 805 mg g⁻¹ for Ag‐doped MoO₃, respectively.     

Preparation and characterization of natural zeolite supported nano TiO2 photocatalysts by a modified electrostatic self‐assembly method

Natural zeolite supported nano TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared by a modified electrostatic self‐assembly (ESA) method. First, γ‐mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane with sulfhydryl (―SH) functional groups was modified on the zeolite powders by using a ‘dry process’. Second, silane with ―SH functional groups was oxidized to sulfonate (―SO₃H) groups by using a hydrogen peroxide/glacial acetic acid mixed solution, and the surface of ―SO₃H silane–zeolite was electronegative charged due to the ionization of ―SO₃H. Third, the hydrolytic titanium polycation from TiCl₄ solution assembled onto the electronegative charged zeolite under electrostatic attraction in the reaction solutions. Finally, zeolite supported nano TiO₂ photocatalysts can be obtained after the above compounds calcined at certain temperature. The samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF). The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution. The results showed that ESA method effectively improved the composite efficiency of zeolite with TiO₂. The photocatalysts prepared by ESA method exhibited higher photocatalytic and recycling activities than that of traditional method. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.