Narrow Results

TiO₂-based catalysts effective in visible radiation for eliminating organic pollutants have attracted intense research activity as a future generation photocatalytic material. However, recombination of electron–hole pairs through trapping/de-trapping as well as the disadvantages of recycling and separation/filtration of powders lead to the limitation of powder TiO₂ materials. TiO₂ nanotube array films supporting vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles (VTNTs) were synthesized by electrophoresis deposition method with the prepared TiO₂ nanotube arrays as the cathode and V₂O₅ sol as the electrolyte. The results indicate that the formation of Ti–O–V bonds and intimate interaction between host–guest interfaces help to enhance the hybrids’ photodegradation activity of gaseous benzene. Importantly, hybrid film catalysts prepared with 0.05 mol/L V₂O₅ sol for 10 min electrophoresis deposition perform a 98% conversion rate of benzene and 1028.8 mg/m³CO₂ production in 80 min under UV–Vis irradiation.

Mesoporous g-C₃N₄ is prepared by a hard template method and is then decorated by carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and TiO₂ nanoparticles through an impregnation route followed by a hydrothermal method. The synthesized hybrids possess higher specific surface area up to 131cm²/g and show effective absorption of visible light range and improved instantaneous photocurrent response, which reveals the enhanced photo-generated carrier separation efficiency. The first-order kinetic reaction rate constant of photocatalytic degradation of gaseous benzene by TCPCN-2 is 5.5 times of the bulk g-C₃N₄. Its degradation rate is up to 96.08% with good photocatalytic stability. Thus, the TiO₂ nanoparticles and CQDs co-decorated g-C₃N₄ hybrids are promising photocatalysts.