Paramagnetic centers of photocatalysts based on nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide doped with nitrogen (N-TiO₂) was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Two types of paramagnetic centers were observed: N^· and NO. The concentration of these centers depends significantly on temperature and irradiation with visible and UV light. It was established that the energy levels corresponding to the N^· and NO centers are, respectively, 2.3 and 2.0 eV below the N-TiO₂ conduction band. These centers are involved in the photooxidation of organic compounds on the N-TiO₂ surface.     

Heterogeneous composite titanium dioxide photocatalysts on phosphate supports

A series of heterogeneous composite photocatalysts was prepared by the deposition of titanium dioxide on porous magnesium phosphate, calcium phosphate, titanium phosphate, zirconium phosphate, and aluminum phosphate supports. The activities of these photocatalysts were compared in the photodecomposition of Rhodamine C dye by the action of UV irradiation. The best functional characteristics were found for the photocatalysts on the magnesium phosphate support treated at 750°C. The use of the photocatalysts on phosphate supports was found to hold promise in photocatalytic water purification. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 36–41, January–February, 2009.     

Modifications on reduced titanium dioxide photocatalysts: A review

A large variety of reduced titanium dioxide (TiO_2-x) materials have been reported recently. Reduced TiO₂, usually resulting from the removal of oxygen atoms or hydrogen incorporation, is proved to be efficient for achieving highly photocatalytic performance including photodegradation of organic compounds, hydrogen generation from water splitting, CO₂ reduction for CH₄ evolution, solar cells, etc. To further improve the properties and activities of TiO_2-x, a combination of the Ti³⁺ self-doping and other traditional modifications like nonmetals doping has been proposed in the past decades. This paper provides a general and critical review on the further modifications on reduced TiO₂ samples, including non-metal elements (N, B, S, F and I) doping, noble-metal (Au, Pt, Pd and Ag) and iron-group metal (Fe, Co and Ni) grafting, metal oxide compositing, carbon (nanotubes and graphene) and carbon-based-material compositing, special facets exposure (mainly dual {001}-{101} and {111}-{110} facets) of TiO_2-x and ordered structure controlling of TiO_2-x. These modifications enhance the physical and/or chemical properties of the reduced TiO₂, or create new features for the modified TiO_2-x samples, which finally leads to the enhancement of photocatalytic performance. Key examples such as N-doping, Au grafting and graphene-based compositing are discussed carefully, and the mechanisms for solar light enhancement, electron transfer and charge separation are also investigated. Finally, some challenging issues on TiO_2-x catalysts are also proposed to encourage new approaches for preparation of TiO_2-x catalysts with efficiently photocatalytic performance.     

A comparative study of bismuth-based photocatalysts with titanium dioxide for perfluorooctanoic acid degradation

Bismuth-based material has been broadly studied due to their potential applications in various areas, especially used as promising photocatalysts for the removal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and several approaches have been adopted to tailor their features. Herein, the bismuth-based photocatalysts (BiOCl, BiPO₄, BiOPO₄/BiOCl) were synthesized by hydrothermal method and advanced characterization techniques (XRD, SEM, EDS elemental mapping, Raman and UV–vis DRS) were employed to analyze their morphology, crystal structure, and purity of the prepared photocatalysts. These synthesized photocatalysts offered a praiseworthy activity as compared to commercial TiO₂ (P25) for the degradation of model pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) under 254 nm UV light. It was interesting to observe that all synthesized photocatalysts show significant degradation of PFOA and their photocatalytic activity follows the order: bismuth-based catalysts > TiO₂ (P25) > without catalyst. Bismuth-based catalysts degraded the PFOA by almost 99.99% within 45 min while this degradation efficiency was 66.05% with TiO₂ under the same reaction condition. Our work shows that the bismuth-based photocatalysts are promising in PFOA treatment.     

A comparative study of bismuth-based photocatalysts with titanium dioxide for perfluorooctanoic acid degradation

The fabricated bismuth-based photocatalysts presented an outstanding performance as compared to commercial TiO₂ (P25) for PFOA degradation under 254 nm UV light irradiation.     

Exploration of silver decoration concentration to enhance photocatalytic efficiency of titanium dioxide photocatalysts

Ag decoration on TiO₂ is favorable to absorption of visible light and wider absorption range. Ag nanoparticles playing the role of electron receivers on TiO₂ surface enhance photodegradation. However, excess Ag nanoparticles caused reduced specific surface area of photocatalysts and increased probability of charge recombination, resulting in lower photocatalytic efficiency. In this study, the influence of various Ag decoration concentrations on photocatalytic activity was investigated. Surface treatment by nitric acid after Ag decoration was performed to avoid excessive Ag deposition. The extent of Ag elimination and its impacts on photocatalytic activity were also explored. An optimum Ag content in the photocatalyst was achieved and photocatalytic efficiency was obviously improved. It was found that the number of calcination times affected the crystallinity and stability of photocatalysts. Better photocatalytic efficiency could be obtained after twice calcinations.     

Selective organic transformations on titanium oxide-based photocatalysts

This article reviews recent advances in selective organic transformations, both in gas and liquid media, using titanium oxide-based photocatalysts. Several photocatalytic reactions, such as oxidation, reduction, and coupling reactions, proceed highly efficiently and selectively without requiring harmful and dangerous chemical reagents and without harmful byproducts. In addition, multistep processes usually required for conventional synthesis of various kinds of valuable compounds can be simplified to a one-pot reaction when in photocatalytic systems. Photocatalytic transformations will therefore play a very important role for organic synthesis in an economically and environmentally friendly way. This review article demonstrates that titanium oxide-based photocatalysts have a great potential as a versatile tool in “green” organic synthesis.     

Selective performance of sol-gel synthesised titanium dioxide photocatalysts in aqueous oxidation of various-type organic pollutants

Photocatalysts synthesized by sol-gel method inevitably incorporate carbon together with dopants. The objective of the research consists in the synthesis and testing of photocatalytic activity of carbon-containing titanium dioxide photocatalysts calcinated at various temperatures. The optical and structural properties of the catalysts were also studied. The activity was tested in visible light in aqueous photocatalytic oxidation of three various-type pollutants, methyl-tert-butyl ether, p-toluidine and phenol, where the divergent character of the C-TiO₂ catalysts was distinctively observed: methyl-tert-butyl ether and p-toluidine were oxidized with the efficiency close to or even surpassing that of UV-irradiated P25 (Evonik), whereas phenol was oxidized poorly. The observed photocatalytic activity, where quantum efficiency varied from 0.6 to 2.3 and from 0.1 to 1.2% for p-toluidine and phenol degradation respectively, may be explained by the different electrostatic properties of the catalysts’ surface and the tested substances, i.e. their interaction. This compromises the widespread usage of phenol as a reference substance for comparison of catalytic activities of catalysts.     

Symmetry and stability of nanotubes based on titanium dioxide

The process of rolling a monolayer of bulk crystal with biperiodical planar lattice to the nanotube was analyzed. It was shown by an example of the carbon nanotubes how the tube symmetry can be revealed through the analysis of symmetry of graphene layers (the layer group with a hexagonal planar lattice) and its changes at the rolling to form the tube. The developed approach can be used to analyze the symmetry of any nanotube. A computer program we developed is discussed that allows to determine the nanotube symmetry using the data on the symmetry and coordinates of the atoms in the nanolayer and get the coordinates of the atoms in the unit cell of the nanotube which can be used for the further quantum-chemical calculations. The method and results of ab initio calculations of the titanium dioxide monolayer stability in the LCAO basis optimized for the bulk crystal, using the hybrid exchange-correlation potential PBE0 are presented. Symmetry properties of nanotubes obtained by rolling the three- and six-plane monolayers (101) and (001) of anatase are discussed. Atomic and electronic structure of TiO₂ nanotubes found by geometry optimization is analyzed. It is shown that titanium dioxide nanotubes based on the three-plane monolayers with hexagonal and square lattice are approximately of the same stability. The data on the stability of nanotubes are essential for the synthesis of new nanomaterials based on titanium dioxide.     

Photocatalytic lithography based on thin films of amorphous hydrated titanium dioxide

The mechanism of photoactivation of amorphous hydrated titanium dioxide thin films containing palladium ions toward the reaction of electroless deposition of nickel was studied. It was shown that the photocatalytic reduction of palladium ions during UV irradiation results in the formation of intermediate Pd(I) states that subsequently disproportionate, yielding a Pd nanophase. The palladium nanoparticle-catalyzed electroless deposition of nickel on exposed areas of the titanium dioxide photolayer makes it possible to fabricate metal patterns having a 5-μm resolution, with the fast and irreversible capture of photoelectrons at the latent image formation step preventing the image from blurring, including the process on conducting substrates.     

Composite photocalysts based on the nanostructural titanium dioxide and zirconium phosphate

A series of composite photocatalysts based on titanium dioxide deposited on the surface of a zirconium phosphate support were synthesized under different synthesis and heat-treatment conditions. The study of the photodestruction kinetics of Rhodamine C showed that the synthesized composites possess high photocatalytic activity that is competitive with the activity of a commercial Hombikat UV100 photocatalyst. The composites based on zirconium phosphate treated with isopropanol at the precipitation stage whereupon heated at 550°C exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity after heating at 750°C. It was found that such zirconium phosphate support has the largest specific surface area (270 m²/g). After heating at 550°C, the surface becomes more stable to the subsequent heating to 750°C, which is necessary for the most complete crystallization of TiO₂ ensuring its high photocatalytic characteristics.     

Recent advances in visible light-responsive titanium oxide-based photocatalysts

This paper presents an overview of the recent advances achieved on visible light-responsive TiO₂-based photocatalysts. In order to provide a focal point, we will highlight the work on transition metal ion-doped TiO₂ and TiO₂ thin films prepared by an RF magnetron sputtering deposition method, as well as their corresponding photoactivities on such significant reactions as organic decomposition and water splitting. Some of their proposed mechanisms are presented together with experimental physicochemical evidence to support the conclusions.     

Glucose biosensor based on glucose oxidase immobilized on unhybridized titanium dioxide nanotube arrays

A glucose biosensor has been fabricated by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx) on unhybridized titanium dioxide nanotube arrays using an optimized cross-linking technique. The TiO₂ nanotube arrays were synthesized directly on a titanium substrate by anodic oxidation. The structure and morphology of electrode material were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical performances of the glucose biosensor were conducted by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements. It gives a linear response to glucose in the 0.05 to 0.65 mM concentration range, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9981, a sensitivity of 199.6 μA mM^?1 cm^?2, and a detection limit as low as 3.8 µM. This glucose biosensor exhibited high selectivity for glucose determination in the presence of ascorbic acid, sucrose and other common interfering substances. This glucose biosensor also performed good reproducibility and long-time storage stability. This optimized cross-linking technique could open a new avenue for other enzyme biosensors fabrication.

Piezoelectric atrazine sensor based on a molecularly imprinted film of titanium dioxide

We have developed a piezoelectric sensor for the determination of atrazine. It is based on the modification of a molecularly imprinted film of TiO₂ that was placed on a quartz crystal via a surface sol?Cgel process. The resulting sensor exhibits high selectivity for atrazine, a re-usability that is better than that of other sensors, a response time of 3?min, a wider linear range (0.0005?C8?mM), and a lower detection limit (0.1???M). The analytical application of the atrazine sensor confirms the feasibility of atrazine determination.

Study on carbon dioxide reduction with water over metal oxide photocatalysts

Various metal oxides with 0.1 wt% Ag loaded as a cocatalyst were prepared by an impregnation method and examined their photocatalytic activity for CO₂ reduction with water. Among all the prepared Ag-loaded metal oxides, Ga₂O₃, ZrO₂, Y₂O₃, MgO, and La₂O₃ showed activities for CO and H₂ productions under ultraviolet light irradiation. Thus, metal oxides involving metal cations with closed shell electronic structures such as d⁰, d¹⁰, and s⁰ had the potential for CO₂ reduction with water. In situ Fourier transform infrared measurement revealed that the photocatalytic activity and selectivity for CO production are controlled by the amount and chemical states of CO₂ adsorbed on the catalyst surface and by the surface basicity, as summarized as follows: Ag/ZrO₂ enhanced H₂ production rather than CO production due to very little CO₂ adsorption. Ag/Ga₂O₃ exhibited the highest activity for CO production, because adsorbed monodentate bicarbonate was effectively converted to bidentate formate being the reaction intermediates for CO production owing to its weak surface basicity. Ag/La₂O₃, Ag/Y₂O₃, and Ag/MgO having both weak and strong basic sites adsorbed larger amount of carbonate species including their ions and suppressed H₂ production. However, the adsorbed carbonate species were hardly converted to the bidentate formate.     

Preparation and properties of a new composite photocatalyst based on nanosized titanium dioxide

The use of photocatalysts supported on adsorbents is receiving substantial attention. Supporting TiO₂ with zeolites is found to be one of the best solutions to increase the efficiency of TiO₂-based photocatalysts. This work was focused on simple preparation of a TiO₂/Na-ZSM-5 composite catalyst by the solid state dispersion (SSD) method and its modification with an organic photosensitizer — polythiophene (PT). Using the XRD diffractometry, structure of the new composite catalyst was proved. Beside this composite catalyst, mechanical mixtures of TiO₂-based catalysts with Na-ZSM-5 zeolite were prepared. The efficiency of all five available photocatalysts (TiO₂, TiO₂-PT, mechanical mixture of TiO₂ + Na-ZSM-5, mechanical mixture of TiO₂-PT + Na-ZSM-5, and the modified SSD-PT composite) on photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol was compared. By measuring the formation of chloride ions and decreasing the 4-chlorophenol concentration at two different initial concentrations of 4-chlorophenol in the basic aqueous solution, the photoefficiency and adsorption properties of our photocatalysts were determined. Presented at the 35th International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 26–30 May 2008.     

Structure and photocatalytic properties of materials based on titanium dioxide and silver nanoparticles

Phase composition and structure of mesostructured materials, titanium dioxide and titanium dioxide modified with silver nanoparticles, have been studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. Introduction of Ag(I) ions into the initial composition and variation of the annealing temperature over the 500–950°C range allows controlling the anatase to rutile crystal phase ratio in the samples. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ and TiO₂/Ag samples has been demonstrated using the methyl orange degradation reaction. The catalytic properties of the materials have been found to depend on the anatase to rutile phase ratio and on the presence of silver nanoparticles.     

A nitric oxide biosensor based on the photovoltaic effect of nano titanium dioxide on hemoglobin

A nitric oxide biosensor based on the photovoltaic effect of nano titanium dioxide on hemoglobin was fabricated with high sensitivity, selectivity, as well as stability. The linear detection concentration range was 5.0 × 10⁻⁶–4.0 × 10⁻⁴ M. The detection limit was 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M with a sensitivity of 8 nA/μM. The possible coexisting compounds would not interfere with the nitric oxide detection. The article is published in the original.