Rapid Degradation of Rhodamine B over Cyclodextrin Modified TiO2

A novel β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) grafted titanium dioxide (TiO2/β-CD) was synthesized through photo-induced self assembly methods, and its structure was characterized. The TiO2/β-CD hybrid nanomaterial showed high photoactivity under visible light irradiation (λ  400 nm and/or λ  420 nm) and simulated solar irradiation (λ  365 nm). Photodegradation of rhodamine B followed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics model. The initial rate R0 of rhodamine B degradation increased by 4.6, 2.4 and 1.5 times in the irradiation conditions of λ  420 nm, λ  400 nm and λ  365 nm, respectively. β-CD increased the lifetimes of the excited states of the unreactive guests and facilitated the electron transfer from the excited dye to the TiO2 conduction band, which enhanced the dye pollutant degradation.