Synthesis and Characterization of C-TiO2/FeTiO3 and CQD/C-TiO2/FeTiO3 Photocatalysts with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities Under Sunlight Irradiation

doi:10.1007/s40195-015-0356-z

Abstract

Abstract:

Sunlight-driven C-TiO₂/FeTiO₃ composites were synthesized with different weight fractions of FeTiO₃. The as-prepared samples were characterized by UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. Under sunlight irradiation, the C-TiO₂/FeTiO₃ photocatalysts degraded methyl orange (MO) efficiently and displayed much higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure FeTiO₃ or carbon-doped titanium dioxide (C-TiO₂), and the C-TiO₂/FeTiO₃ photocatalyst with 10 wt% of FeTiO₃ exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity was mainly ascribed to the formation of a heterojunction between C-TiO₂ and FeTiO₃, which facilitated the transfer and separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The quenching effects of different scavengers demonstrated that the reactive superoxide radicals (^·O₂^-) and hydroxyl radicals (^·OH) played a major role in the MO degradation. The possible photocatalytic mechanism is discussed on the basis of the band structures of C-TiO₂ and FeTiO₃. To further enhance the photocatalytic efficiency, double-heterojunctioned CQD/C-TiO₂/FeTiO₃ composite was prepared by loading carbon quantum dots onto the C-TiO₂/FeTiO₃ surface.

Key words: C-TiO2, FeTiO3, CQD, Composites, Sunlight photocatalytic activity

Ramakrishna Dadigala, Bhagavanth Reddy Gangapuram, Rajkumar Bandi, Ayodhya Dasari, Veerabhadram Guttena. Synthesis and Characterization of C-TiO₂/FeTiO₃ and CQD/C-TiO₂/FeTiO₃ Photocatalysts with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities Under Sunlight Irradiation[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2016, 29(1): 17-27.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig.1 XRD patterns of undoped TiO2 (a), C-TiO2 (b), C-TiO2/FeTiO3 composites (c-e) and FeTiO3 (f)

Fig.2 Diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectra a and (Ahν)1/2 versus hν plots of undoped TiO2, FeTiO3, C-TiO2, and C-TiO2/FeTiO3 composites b

Fig.3 FTIR spectra of FeTiO3, C-TiO2, and C-TiO2/FeTiO3 composites

Fig.4 PL spectra of undoped TiO2, C-TiO2, and C-TiO2/FeTiO3 composites

Fig.5 SEM image of FeTiO3 a, TEM images of C-TiO2 b, and C-TiO2/FeTiO3-10 composite c

Fig.6 EDS of FeTiO3 a, C-TiO2 b, and CTFTO-10 composite c

Fig.7 MO photolysis and photocatalytic degradation over undoped TiO2, FeTiO3, C-TiO2, and C-TiO2/FeTiO3 composites a; UV-Vis absorption spectra for the degradation of MO in the presence of CTFTO-10 composite b and photocatalytic degradation kinetics of undoped TiO2, FeTiO3, C-TiO2, and CTFTO-10 composite for MO degradation under sunlight irradiation c

Fig.8 Reusability study of CTFTO-10 composite for MO degradation under sunlight irradiation a; XRD patterns of the CTFTO-10 composite before and after photocatalytic reactions b

Fig.9 Effect of different scavengers on degradation of MO in the presence of CTFTO-10 composite under sunlight irradiation a;·OH trapping PL spectra of CTFTO-10 composite in TA solution under sunlight irradiation b

Fig.10 A schematic mechanism of MO degradation over CTFTO-10 composite under sunlight irradiation

Fig.11 TEM image of CQD a, SEM images of CTFTO-10 composite b, CQD/C-TiO2/FeTiO3 composite c

Fig.12 Diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectra a, XRD pattern b, PL spectra c of CTFTO-10 composite and CQD/C-TiO2/FeTiO3 composite

Fig.13 Photocatalytic degradation of MO over CTFTO-10 composite and CQD/CTFTO-10 composite

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Synthesis and Characterization of C-TiO₂/FeTiO₃ and CQD/C-TiO₂/FeTiO₃ Photocatalysts with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities Under Sunlight Irradiation

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