Search

The construction of ternary metal oxide to improve photoelectrochemical performances of TiO 2 photocatalysts is the hot topic in environmental and resource applications. Herein, Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 nanoparticles were deposited on TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TiO 2 NTAs) by the solvothermal technology only by changing reagent concentration. The solar absorption region of TiO 2 NTAs was obviously extended into visible light after Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 sensitization, and the photoelectric performance was also significantly improved. The high visible light photocurrent density and photovoltage achieved 30.24 μA/cm2 and -0.19 V, and the interface resistance was reduced that benefited the rapid electron transportation. The photocatalytic performances of methyl orange (MO), rhodamine b (RhB), methylene blue (MB) and Cr (VI) removal were enhanced, and 63.76%, 77.34%, 100% and 100% of these pollutants were photoremoved under solar irradiation. Moreover, the construction of direct Z-scheme Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 /TiO 2 NTAs heterojunction was beneficial to the photoelectron transfer and active radical formation, and the experimental results indicated that •OH and •O 2 - were the decisive species for the dye degradation. The samples also exhibited outstanding photocatalytic water splitting for H 2 evolution, and the high efficiency (306.36 μmol·cm−2·h−1) and stability were confirmed. The excellent photocatalytic performances of the Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 /TiO 2 NTAs photoelectrodes showed extensive potential applications in environmental pollution and green resource exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofunctional photocatalysts are attractive materials in solar energy transformation for environmental protection and green energy source generation. TiO 2 nanoparticles are the most prospective photocatalysts due to the high photoactive property. In this paper, Ag nanoparticle-sensitized TiO 2 nanotube arrays (Ag/TiO 2 NTAs) were constructed as the photoelectrochemical platform for pollutant removal and hydrogen generation. TiO 2 NTAs were firstly obtained by the anodization method, and carbon layer was formed by the hydrothermal carbonization of glucose in different concentrations, and then Ag nanoparticles were deposited by carbon reduction of Ag+. Ag/TiO 2 NTAs could effectively decompose organic dye molecules and remove toxic heavy metal ions. The samples also could achieve visible light photocurrent and hydrogen generation. The surface plasmon resonance absorption and electron transfer path of Ag nanoparticles benefit photochemical performance improvement of TiO 2 NTAs. The construction of multifunctional platform of Ag/TiO 2 NTAs would cause extensive response and focus in the synergistic applications of semiconductor photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TiO 2 NTAs) were mainly synthesized by the anodization of Ti foils, and the Ti mesh anodization was little researched. TiO 2 NTAs/Ti mesh showed remarkably high photocatalytic performance in pollutant treatment and photocurrent/hydrogen generation. In this paper, TiO 2 NTAs were synthesized on flexible three dimensional Ti mesh surface, and CdS/PbS sensitizers covered TiO 2 NTAs by the hydrothermal deposition. Especially, the S –CdS photocatalyst prepared by CdS sensitization showed strong photocurrent and photocatalytic pollutant removal capacity. RhB, MB dyes and Cr(VI) ions were effectively purified under solar irradiation, and samples also showed excellent visible light-driven photoelectric ability. Furthermore, the S –PbS photocatalyst prepared by PbS sensitization showed high photocatalytic water splitting performance. The functional material offers a flexible, low cost and high photocatalytic membrane for waste water treatment and photocurrent/hydrogen generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]