Structure characteristics and photocatalytic performance of black TiO2/MMT with Ti–O–Si bond

• Published in: Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society Vol. 20; no. 12; pp. 2891 - 2902
• Main Authors: Wei, Feng, Lei, Linxin, Lyu, Ying-hai, Li, Haoming, Li, Juan, Li, Shiyao, Yu, Hao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-12-2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Biochemistry; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Clustering; Decoloring; Dyes; Inorganic Chemistry; Montmorillonite; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Phenols; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Physical Chemistry; Rhodamine; Rhodium; Sunlight; Titanium dioxide; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Ti–O–Si bond; Black TiO; Montmorillonite; Photocatalysis; Nano-structure
• ISSN: 1735-207X; 1735-2428
• DOI: 10.1007/s13738-023-02876-w

As an interesting photocatalytic material, black TiO
2
has high research and application value. Some desirable adsorption and photocatalytic composites will be fabricated in combination black TiO
2
with montmorillonite (MMT). In this paper, nano-structures of TiO
2
/MMTs were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, Raman, XPS, PL and UV–Vis DRS. It can be concluded that the existence of MMT delays the crystal transformation of TiO
2
. New Ti–O–Si bonds, oxygen vacancy clustering and minimal Ti (III) contents were emerged and intensified in black TiO
2
/MMT. These special structures are helpful to preventing the recombination of electrons and holes which were used to degrade the dye molecules. The photocatalytic performance was determined by the decolorization ratio of two kinds of dyes under sunlight or indoor visible light. The degradation efficiencies of rhodamine B (Rh B) and methyl orange (MO) can reach 78.7% and 53.2%, respectively, after illuminated for 140 min under sunlight. The assessment of radical scavengers shows that the main functional radicals in the degradation of Rh B and MO were ·O
2
−
and ·OH, respectively. These new catalysts have wide range of utilization in the degradation of phenols, aromatics, pesticides and antibiotics compounds.