Photocatalytic Activity of TiO₂-C Composites under the Visible Light

Abstract

TiO2-C composites of high photocatalytic activity were in-situ fabricated with nano-TiO2 powders and resins. The composites were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC-TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectrum (DRS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scan electronic microscopy (SEM). XRD results indicated that the composites consist of carbon and anatase phases. UV-Vis DRS showed that composites not only have a good performance in the ultraviolet region, but also have a very good performance in the visible light region. Photocatalysis degradations of methyl orange with purity nano-TiO2 and TiO2-C composite were tested by lighting of visible light. After methyl orange liquid was lighted by visible light for 1 hour, the decolorization ratio of methyl orange can be up to 96.3%( reactive brilliant red X-3B:98.7%) with TiO2-C powders, while it was only 34.7% (reactive brilliant red X-3B:66.9%) with purity nano-TiO2 powders. In-situ fabricated carbon can change the width of energy band of TiO2 and adsorb methyl orange and reactive brilliant red X-3B molecules. The former accelerate the absorption of visible light, and the later raise the decomposition rate of methyl orange and reactive brilliant red X-3B. All of these can improve photocatalytic activity of TiO2-C composites under the visible light.