Surface-modification of indium tin oxide nanoparticles with titanium dioxide by a nonaqueous process and its photocatalytic properties

Indium tin oxide nanoparticles prepared by co-precipitation were re-dispersed in benzyl alcohol and modified successfully with titanium dioxide using titanium tetrachloride as precursor. The morphologies and the re-dispersing processes of both the initial and modified indium tin oxide nanoparticles were investigated, respectively. The photocatalytic properties of the modified nanoparticles were compared with commercial P25 photocatalyst. It was found that (i) the average diameter of the initial indium tin oxide nanoparticles was 10.7 nm and that of the surface-modified nanoparticles was 14.5 nm; (ii) the optimal ultrasonication time was 10.0 min and 8.0 min for the initial and surface-modified ITO nanoparticles, respectively; (iii) the modified particles possessed a higher photocatalytic activity than commercial P25 photocatalyst in the photodegradation of rhodamine B in aqueous medium at pH 5.00; (iv) the pH of the medium markedly influences the photodegradation efficiency.