The Adsorption and Photocatalytic Decomposition of Citric Acid on Pt/TiO_2

The adsorption and photocatalutic decomposition of citric acid on both Pt/TiO2 powder and n-TiO2 single crystal electrode were studied in aqueous solutions of various pH. It was found that citrate ions were chemisorbed on TiO2, which could increase the interfacial capacity and the filling factor of photocurrent-potential curves. The quantity of adsorption, slope of mott-Shottky plot and the rate of photocatalytic decomposition of citric acid were found to depend strongly on pH of solution. The phot ocatalytic decomposition of citric acid was discussed in light of its adsorption on TiO2.

Photocatalytic decomposition of oil films floating on water using TiO_2 supported on hollow glass microbeads by sunlight

The feasibility of photocatalytic decomposition of oil films floating on water using TiO2 supported on hollow glass microbeads was studied.The results showed that 100% of ethylbenzene and 78% of dodecane can be photocatalytically removed after 8 h illumination with sunlight.The TiO2 supported on the hollow glass microbeads was not easily detached from the beads.After 150 h illumination there was no significant loss of the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 Some intermediate products of photocatalytic decomposition of dodecane were detected.

Formaldehyde decomposition of air purification functional interior wall paint

A novel nano-TiO2-xNx composite was used as photocatalyst and added to the interior wall paint. The average diameter of nano-TiO2-xNx was about 20 nm. The majority crystal component of the sample was anatase and its optical absorption edge was shifted from 387 nm to 520 nm significantly. Nano-composite paint containing different dosage of nano- TiO2-xNx was investigated to study the properties of formaldehyde decomposition in the air. Testing results show that the formaldehyde decomposition ratio of that nano-paint can almost reach above 80%, especially for that of the paint containing 3% （w/w） nano-TiO2-xNx which exceeded 90%. The primary investigation on the reaction kinetics of photocatalytic formaldehyde decomposition indicated that the experiment data well fit the model of first-order reaction kinetics.

Enhancement of photocatalytic activity by femtosecond-laser induced periodic surface structures of Si

Laser induced periodic surface structures(LIPSS)represent a kind of top down approach to produce highly reproducible nano/microstructures without going for any sophisticated process of lithography.This method is much simpler and cost effective.In this work,LIPSS on Si surfaces were generated using femtosecond laser pulses of 800 nm wavelength.Photocatalytic substrates were prepared by depositing TiO2 thin films on top of the structured and unstructured Si wafer.The coatings were produced by sputtering from a Ti target in two different types of oxygen atmospheres.In first case,the oxygen pressure within the sputtering chamber was chosen to be high(3×10^–2 mbar)whereas it was one order of magnitude lower in second case(2.1×10^–3 mbar).In photocatalytic dye decomposition study of Methylene blue dye it was found that in the presence of LIPSS the activity can be enhanced by 2.1 and 3.3 times with high pressure and low pressure grown TiO2 thin films,respectively.The increase in photocatalytic activity is attributed to the enlargement of effective surface area.In comparative study,the dye decomposition rates of TiO2 thin films grown on LIPSS are found to be much higher than the value for standard reference thin film material Pilkington Activ^TM.

Improved thermochromic and photocatalytic activities of F-VO_(2)/ Nb-TiO_(2) multifunctional coating films

Multifunctional photocatalytic and thermochromic composites consisting of fluorine-doped vanadium dioxide(F-VO_(2))and niobium-doped TiO_(2)(NTO)were prepared by a simple physical mixing.The composites exhibited a higher thermochromic activity and nitrogen oxide(NO_(x))decomposition activity than that of pristine VO_(2)/NTO.Both VO_(2) and NTO materials were synthesized using an environmentally friendly soft chemical solvothermal/hydrothermal process,which produced NTO nanoparticles with a controllable morphology and particle size by changing the ratio of ethanol and acetic acid sol-vent.F-VO_(2)/NTO showed a better multifunctionality of thermochromic and photocatalytic activities than those of VO_(2)/NTO samples.The coexistence coating films showed a better effect on thermochromic and deNO_(x)(NO_(x) reduction)activity than those of double-sided films for F-VO_(2)/NTO samples.The best thermochromic and photocatalytic activities obtained from sample F-VO_(2)/NTO 60 showed the ΔT_(1500 nm)[difference of transmittance(ΔT)at the wavelength of 1500 nm under 25°C and 95°C]of up to 29.5%and deNO_(x) activity of up to 40%at λ>290 nm under mercury lamp irradiation.The use of F-VO_(2)/NTO coexistence coating films showed the appropriateness for multifunctional materials.