UV‐Assisted Removal of Inactive Peroxide Species for Sustained Epoxidation of Cyclooctene on Anatase TiO2

Epoxidation of olefins with H₂O₂ is one of the most important reactions in organic synthesis. We found that anatase TiO₂ can be a good catalyst for the epoxidation of cyclooctene with H₂O₂ at room temperature. However, the catalyst deactivated quickly in the presence of excess amount of H₂O₂ because of the formation of inactive side‐on Ti‐η²‐peroxide species on the surface of TiO₂, the presence of which was confirmed by isotope‐labelled resonance UV Raman spectroscopy and kinetics studies. Interestingly, the epoxidation reaction could be dramatically accelerated under irradiation of UV light with λ≥350 nm. This phenomenon is attributed to the photo‐assisted removal of the inactive peroxide species, through which the active sites on the surface of anatase TiO₂ are regenerated and the catalytic epoxidation of cyclooctene with H₂O₂ is resumed. This finding provides an alternative for sustained epoxidation reactions on TiO₂ at room temperature. Moreover, it also has significant implications on the deactivation pathway and possible solutions in Ti‐based heterogeneous catalysis or photocatalysis.     

Effects of titanium silicalite and TiO2 nanocomposites on supported Co‐based catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

Titanium silicalite (TS) and TiO₂ nanocomposites were prepared by mixing TS and TiO₂ with different ratios in ethanol. They were impregnated with 15 wt% Co loading to afford Co‐based catalysts. Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) performance of these TS–TiO₂ nanocomposite‐supported Co‐based catalysts was studied in a fixed‐bed tubular reactor. The results reveal that the Co/TS–TiO₂ catalysts have better catalytic performance than Co/TS or Co/TiO₂ each with a single support, showing the synergistic effect of the binary TS–TiO₂ support. Among the TS–TiO₂ nanocomposite‐supported Co‐based catalysts, Co/TS–TiO₂‐1 presents the highest activity. These catalysts were characterized using N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, H₂ temperature‐programmed reduction, H₂ temperature‐programmed desorption and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the position of the active component has a significant effect on the catalytic activity. In the TS–TiO₂ nanocomposites, cobalt oxides located at the new pores developed between TS and TiO₂ can exhibit better catalytic activity. Also, a positive relationship is observed between Co dispersion and FTS catalytic performance for all catalysts. The catalytic activity is improved on increasing the dispersion of Co.     

Catalytic Role of TiO2 Terminal Oxygen Atoms in Liquid‐Phase Photocatalytic Reactions: Oxidation of Aromatic Compounds in Anhydrous Acetonitrile

On the basis of experiments carried out with controlled amounts of residual oxygen and water, or by using oxygen‐isotope‐labeled Ti¹⁸O₂ as the photocatalyst, we demonstrate that ¹⁸O_s atoms behave as real catalytic species in the photo‐oxidation of acetonitrile‐dissolved aromatic compounds such as benzene, phenol, and benzaldehyde with TiO₂. The experimental evidence allows a terminal‐oxygen indirect electron‐transfer (TOIET) mechanism to be proposed, which is a new pathway that involves the trapping of free photogenerated valence‐band holes at O_s species and their incorporation into the reaction products, with simultaneous generation of oxygen vacancies at the TiO₂ surface and their subsequent healing with oxygen atoms from either O₂ or H₂O molecules that are dissolved in the liquid phase. According to the TOIET mechanism, the TiO₂ surface is not considered to remain stable, but is continuously changing in the course of the photocatalytic reaction, challenging earlier interpretations of TiO₂ photocatalytic phenomena.     

掺杂二氧化锡的二氧化钛的光学性质及其光催化特性

二氧化钛多相催化是一种极具前途的环境污染深度净化技术。 本文以钛酸四丁酯和四氯化锡为原料,无水乙醇为溶剂,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了掺杂二氧化锡的二氧化钛薄膜和复合氧化物粉体。通过测量薄膜的吸收光谱推算光学能隙,结果发现掺杂样品的光学能隙比纯二氧化钛样品有所变小。随着热处理温度的提高,掺杂和纯二氧化钛样品的光学能隙都略微降低。X-射线衍射分析表明,复合氧化物粉体的热处理温度对样品的晶体结构和光催化性能有重要影响。以掺杂二氧化锡5 % 摩尔比的样品与纯二氧化钛对照,500 ℃以下热处理样品以锐钛矿结构为主,600 ℃热处理样品为锐钛矿与金红石相共存,并显示了较好的光催化性能。透射电子显微镜观察显示,同样600 ℃热处理,掺杂样品要比纯二氧化钛具有更小的颗粒尺寸。在700 ℃热处理的样品中,掺杂样品只存在金红石相而纯二氧化钛样品中仍存有锐钛矿相。用阿伦尼乌斯经验关系式推测的晶粒生长的活化能,纯二氧化钛47.486 kJ.mol, 掺杂5 % 摩尔比的复合氧化物样品33.103 kJ.mol。以亚甲基蓝为降解物质,考察了掺杂量和热处理温度对样品的光催化性能。     

Monodisperse TiO2 Spheres with High Charge Density and Their Self‐Assembly

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) spheres are potential candidates to fabricate three‐dimensional (3D) photonic crystals owing to their high refractive index and low absorption in the visible and near‐infrared regions. Here, TiO₂ spheres with both high surface charge density and uniform size, which are necessary for the self‐assembly of TiO₂ spheres, have been prepared by means of sol–gel methods in ethanol in the presence of thioglycolic acid as ligand. Thioglycolic acid, which contains two functional groups, not only acts as coordinating ligand for stabilizing and controlling the growth of TiO₂ spheres but also endows the resulting TiO₂ spheres with high charge density as based on ζ ‐potential analysis when the pH of the TiO₂ aqueous dispersion was 6.5 or higher. The SEM images illustrate that the diameter of the prepared TiO₂ spheres can be tuned from 100 to 300 nm by simply controlling the concentration of H₂O. FTIR spectra confirm that thioglycolic acid bonded to the surface of TiO₂ spheres through carboxylic groups. As anticipated, the obtained TiO₂ spheres could self‐assemble to form a 3D opal photonic crystal structure by means of a simple gravity sedimentation method. Then the TiO₂ spheres in the 3D opal photonic crystal structure were able to transform into a pure anatase phase by annealing at different temperatures.     

Enhancement of Photocatalytic Efficiency of TiO2 by Supporting on Clinoptilolite in the Decolorization of Azo Dye Direct Yellow 12 Aqueous Solutions

Structure and physico‐chemical properties of a photocatalyst, especially surface area and absorption ability, were correlated to catalytic activities in photodegradation of dye pollutants in water. In this investigation photocatalytic degradation of azo dye Direct yellow 12 (Chrysophenine G) in water was studied. Titanium(IV) oxide was supported on Clinoptilolite (CP) (Iranian Natural Zeolite) using solid‐state dispersion (SSD) method. The results show that the TiO₂/Clinoptilolite (SSD) is an active photocatalyst. The maximum effect of photo degradation was observed at 10 wt.% TiO₂, 90 wt.% Clinoptilolite. A first order reaction with k = 0.0108 min^?1 was observed. The effects of some parameters such as pH, amount of photocatalyst, initial concentration of dye were examined.     

IR-study of hydrated surface of oxide photocatalysts

IR spectroscopy combined with thermogravimetry was used to investigate the effect of the pretreatment temperature on the degree of coverage of the surface of oxide photocatalysts, TiO₂, ZnO, CeO₂, and Zn²⁺/TiO₂, with water. At room temperature, the amount of adsorbed water per unit area of photocatalysts in the air decreases in the row: ZnO ≥ CeO₂ > TiO₂, whereas the temperature needed for complete removal of physically adsorbed water from the studied oxides decreases in the reverse order. Water is removed from the ZnO surface by evacuation at room temperature; in the case of CeO₂ and TiO₂, it desorbs at 200 and 300 °С, respectively. The terminal OH groups on the oxide surface are the most strongly bonded with adsorbed water. In the zinc modified TiO₂, the terminal OH groups are firstly replaced by Zn cations, which causes both hydrophobization of the samples under atmospheric conditions and a decrease in the temperature at which physically adsorbed water is released from the surface. Evacuation of ZnO at 350 °C removes the surface oxygen and results in the generation of the surface defect sites. This causes strong absorption in the IR spectra in the region of 1000—4000 cm^–1. The formation of surface defects probably causes the appearance of donor levels in the band gap. The energy of the transition of electrons from these levels to the conduction band corresponds to the energy of the IR radiation. After oxidation of such samples in O₂ at 350 °C, strong absorption in the IR spectra disappears.     

Characterization of Pd/TiO2 embedded in multi-walled carbon nanotube catalyst with a high photocatalytic activity

Pd particles loading on TiO₂-embedded multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), MWCNTs, and TiO₂ particles were prepared via an impregnation method with palladium(II) chlorate solution followed by heat treatment at high temperature. To characterize the catalysts, BET surface area, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy were employed. The prepared catalysts were tested in degradation of methyl orange under visible light. Pd/TiO₂-MWCNTs catalyst demonstrates the highest photocatalytic activity, and the phase transformation from PdO to Pd0 phase takes place at heat treatment of embedded TiO₂. The nanoparticles size of TiO₂ can be decreased by introduction of MWCNTs species. Combining structural characterization with kinetic study results we could conclude that the superior catalytic performance could arise due to the Pd/TiO₂-MWCNTs catalyst’s structure.     

Photoelectrochemical H2 Evolution with a Hydrogenase Immobilized on a TiO2‐Protected Silicon Electrode

The combination of enzymes with semiconductors enables the photoelectrochemical characterization of electron‐transfer processes at highly active and well‐defined catalytic sites on a light‐harvesting electrode surface. Herein, we report the integration of a hydrogenase on a TiO₂‐coated p‐Si photocathode for the photo‐reduction of protons to H₂. The immobilized hydrogenase exhibits activity on Si attributable to a bifunctional TiO₂ layer, which protects the Si electrode from oxidation and acts as a biocompatible support layer for the productive adsorption of the enzyme. The p‐Si|TiO₂|hydrogenase photocathode displays visible‐light driven production of H₂ at an energy‐storing, positive electrochemical potential and an essentially quantitative faradaic efficiency. We have thus established a widely applicable platform to wire redox enzymes in an active configuration on a p‐type semiconductor photocathode through the engineering of the enzyme–materials interface.     

V2O5/TiO2 Catalyst Xerogels: Method of Preparation and Characterization

This work describes a modified sol-gel method for the preparation of V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalysts. The samples have been characterized by N₂ adsorption at 77 K, X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM/EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The surface area increases with the vanadia loading from 24 m² g^–1 for pure TiO₂ to 87 m² g^–1 for 9 wt% of V₂O₅. The rutile form is predominant for pure TiO₂ but becomes enriched with anatase phase when vanadia loading is increased. No crystalline V₂O₅ phase was observed in the diffractograms of the catalysts. Analysis by SEM showed heterogeneous granulation of particles with high vanadium dispersion. Two species of surface vanadium were observed by FT-IR spectroscopy: a monomeric vanadyl and polymeric vanadates. The vanadyl/vanadate ratio remains practically constant. Ethanol oxidation was used as a catalytic test in a temperature range from 350 to 560 K. The catalytic activity starts around 380 K. For the sample with 9 wt% of vanadia, the conversion of ethanol into acetaldehyde as the main product was approximately 90% at 473 K.     

Quenching of TiO2 photo catalysis by silver nanoparticles

The plasmon resonance of metal nanostructures affects neighboring semiconductors, quenching or enhancing optical transitions depending on various parameters. These plasmonic properties are currently investigated with respect to topics such as photovoltaics and optical detection and could also have important consequences for photocatalysis. Here the effect of silver nanoparticles of a size up to 30 nm and at maximum 0.50 monolayers on the photocatalytic oxidation of ethylene on TiO₂ is studied. Since the plasmon resonance energy of silver nanoparticles is comparable with the TiO₂ band gap, dipole-dipole interaction converts excitons into heat at the silver nanoparticle. This indicates that plasmonic interaction with TiO₂ semiconductor catalysts can reduce the photo catalytic activity considerably.     

TiO2‐nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitriles

The catalytic effects of two forms of nano‐TiO₂, which are prepared via an ordinary or a magnetized process, are investigated in the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitriles by one‐pot multicomponent reaction of 4‐methyl thiophenol, malononitrile, and aryl aldehydes. The results have shown that both prepared nano‐TiO₂ exhibited high catalytic activities toward the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitrile derivatives but the nano‐TiO₂, which is prepared via a magnetized process, has shown better catalytic activity. Furthermore, this new catalytic method for the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitriles provides rapid access to the desired compounds in high yields and so a simple work‐up procedure in the presence of water at room temperature. Therefore, this method represents a significant improvement incompatible of the other methods that are available for the synthesis of pyridine dicarbonitriles.     

Photo and Chemical Reduction of Copper onto Anatase‐Type TiO2 Nanoparticles with Enhanced Surface Hydroxyl Groups as Efficient Visible Light Photocatalysts

In this study, the photocatalytic efficiency of anatase‐type TiO₂ nanoparticles synthesized using the sol–gel low‐temperature method, were enhanced by a combined process of copper reduction and surface hydroxyl groups enhancement. UV–light‐assisted photo and NaBH₄‐assisted chemical reduction methods were used for deposition of copper onto TiO₂. The surface hydroxyl groups of TiO₂ were enhanced with the assistance of NaOH modification. The prepared catalysts were immobilized on glass plates and used as the fixed‐bed systems for the removal of phenazopyridine as a model drug contaminant under visible light irradiation. NaOH‐modified Cu/TiO₂ nanoparticles demonstrated higher photocatalytic efficiency than that of pure TiO₂ due to the extending of the charge carriers lifetime and enhancement of the adsorption capacity of TiO₂ toward phenazopyridine. The relationship of structure and performance of prepared nanoparticles has been established by using various techniques, such as XRD, XPS, TEM, EDX, XRF, TGA, DRS and PL. The effects of preparation variables, including copper content, reducing agents rate (NaBH₄ concentration and UV light intensity) and NaOH concentration were investigated on the photocatalytic efficiency of NaOH‐modified Cu/TiO₂ nanoparticles.     

Surface Prechlorination of Anatase TiO2 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Oxidation of Toluene and Hexane

We report the influence of prechlorination of TiO₂ powder on the activity for the photocatalyzed oxidation of hydrocarbons (toluene, hexane) and oxygenates (acetone, butan‐1‐ol). Water‐ and HCl‐pretreated catalyst are prepared by impregnation of TiO₂ powder in H₂O and in HCl solutions, respectively, followed by drying at room temperature. X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis demonstrates the surface prechlorination efficiency: 1 g of TiO₂ impregnated with 3 ml of 3n HCl solution results in a chlorine surface concentration of 1.6%. Prechlorination results in a photo‐oxidation‐rate enhancement for toluene and hexane, no change for butan‐1‐ol, and inhibition for acetone. This pattern is the same as that demonstrated earlier by us when these reactants are co‐fed with the chlorine source trichloroethylene (TCE).     

Surface Modifications and Optoelectronic Characterization of TiO2‐Nanoparticles: Design of New Photo‐Electronic Materials

TiO₂ nanoparticles are of great current interest for applications in photo‐electronic materials including light‐energy conversion, artificial photosynthetic systems as well as photocatalysis. The success of these applications relies on the exciton recombination dynamics and visible‐light sensitivity of the TiO₂ nanomaterials. Thus, in order to develop the highly efficient photo‐electronic materials absorbing visible light, different low dimensional TiO₂ nanostructures such as nanodiscs, nanofibers and nanochains were synthesized, and thereafter their surfaces were modified by incorporating with Sn‐porphyrins and heteropoly acid. The optoelectronic properties of the surface‐modified nanomaterials were investigated with regard to the optical properties and the surface exciton dynamics by using both steady‐state and ultrafast time‐resolved laser spectroscopic techniques including single nanoparticle photoluminescence technique. These results were correlated with the photo‐electronic properties including photocatalytic activities and solar cell efficiencies, indicating that the electron transfer mechanism in the modified nanostructures may be similar to the “Z‐scheme” of the plant photosynthetic system so that both photocatalytic activity and solar cell efficiencies were synergistically enhanced by using two color illumination.     

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.     

p-Aminophenylacetic acid-mediated synthesis of monodispersed titanium oxide hybrid microspheres in ethanol solution

Monodispersed TiO₂ hybrid microspheres were prepared via the hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) in ethanol solution containing p-aminophenylacetic acid (APA). The effects of the APA:TTIP molar ratio, water content, reaction time and reaction temperature on the morphology of the resultant spheres were investigated. The products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. It was demonstrated that the diameters of the resultant TiO₂ spheres could be tuned in the range of 380–800 nm by changing the APA:TTIP molar ratio (1:3 to 3:1) and water content (1–3 v/v%) in the reaction medium, and that increasing the APA:TTIP molar ratio led to larger TiO₂ hybrid spheres while increasing the water content decreased their size. The loading content of APA in the hybrid spheres could reach 20 wt.% as they were prepared with the APA:TTIP ratio of 3:1. The possible formation mechanism of the hybrid spheres was also investigated. It was found that APA slowed down the hydrolysis rate of the titanium precursor so that resulted in the formation of the TiO₂ spheres. In addition, the APA present in TiO₂ spheres acted as a reducing agent to in situ convert HAuCl₄ into metallic Au on the surface of the TiO₂ spheres. The catalytic activity of the resultant Au/APA–TiO₂ composite was examined using transfer hydrogenation of phenylacetone with 2-propanol, and it was indicated that the catalyst displayed high efficiency for this reaction.     

Oxygen‐Controlled Catalysis by Vitamin B12‐TiO2: Formation of Esters and Amides from Trichlorinated Organic Compounds by Photoirradiation

An oxygen switch in catalysis of the cobalamin derivative (B₁₂)‐TiO₂ hybrid catalyst for the dechlorination of trichlorinated organic compounds has been developed. The covalently bound B₁₂ on the TiO₂ surface transformed trichlorinated organic compounds into an ester and amide by UV light irradiation under mild conditions (in air at room temperature), while dichlorostilbenes (E and Z forms) were formed in nitrogen from benzotrichloride. A benzoyl chloride was formed as an intermediate of the ester and amide, which was detected by GC‐MS. The substrate scope of the synthetic strategy is demonstrated with a range of various trichlorinated organic compounds. A photo‐duet reaction utilizing the hole and conduction band electron of TiO₂ in B₁₂‐TiO₂ for the amide formation was also developed.     

Influence of sputter power on structural and electrical properties of TiO2 films for Al/TiO2/Si gate capacitors

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films were deposited onto p‐Si substrates held at room temperature by reactive Direct Current (DC) magnetron sputtering at various sputter powers in the range 80–200 W. The as‐deposited TiO₂ films were annealed at a temperature of 1023 K. The post‐annealed films were characterized for crystallographic structure, chemical binding configuration, surface morphology and optical absorption. The electrical and dielectric properties of Al/TiO₂/p‐Si structure were determined from the capacitance–voltage and current–voltage characteristics. X‐ray diffraction studies confirmed that the as‐deposited films were amorphous in nature. After post‐annealing at 1023 K, the films formed at lower powers exhibited anatase phase, where as those deposited at sputter powers > 160 W showed the mixed anatase and rutile phases of TiO₂. The surface morphology of the films varied significantly with the increase of sputter power. The electrical and dielectric properties on the air‐annealed Al/TiO₂/p‐Si structures were studied. The effect of sputter power on the electrical and dielectric characteristics of the structure of Al/TiO₂/p‐Si (metal‐insulator‐semiconductor) was systematically investigated. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface Engineering of Titania Boosts Electroassisted Propane Dehydrogenation at Low Temperature

Electric field catalysis using surface proton conduction, in which proton hopping and collision on the reactant are promoted by external electricity, is a promising approach to break the thermodynamic equilibrium limitation in endothermic propane dehydrogenation (PDH). This study proposes a catalyst design concept for more efficient electroassisted PDH at low temperature. Sm was doped into the anatase TiO₂ surface to increase surface proton density by charge compensation. Pt−In alloy was deposited on the Sm-doped TiO₂ for more favorable proton collision and selective propylene formation. The catalytic activity in electroassisted PDH drastically increased by doping an appropriate amount of Sm (1 mol % to Ti) where the highest propylene yield of 19.3 % was obtained at 300 °C where the thermodynamic equilibrium yield was only 0.5 %. Results show that surface proton enrichment boosts alkane dehydrogenation at low temperature.