Visible Light‐Driven Degradation of Trichloroethylene in Aqueous Phase with Vanadium‐Doped TiO₂ Photocatalysts

Abstract

The development of photocatalyzed water remediation strategies using visible (solar) light to mineralize volatile chlorinated organic compounds (VCOCs) is a long standing, not yet fully achieved goal. Herewith, a facile route is presented to synthesize vanadium‐doped TiO 2 photocatalysts using a one‐step hydrothermal method. Different characterization methods are employed to investigate the physicochemical properties of as‐prepared V‐doped TiO 2 samples, indicating the mixed phases of anatase, rutile, and brookite in the crystal structure addition to the mesoporous framework. The nature of the vanadium species at the TiO 2 surface is assessed by X‐ray photoelectron and emission spectroscopy. The aerobic photodegradation of a common VCOC, trichloroethylene, using V‐doped catalysts is demonstrated to be much more effectively than with undoped TiO 2 . Importantly, the herein described V‐doped photocatalysts show high activity both under ultraviolett and visible light irradiation. Moreover, these V‐doped TiO 2 photocatalysts are robust under the reaction conditions, being recyclable for at least four consecutive runs without any activity loss.