Photocatalytic properties of nano-structured TiO2-carbon films obtained by means of electrophoretic deposition.
Recent studies have shown that the light-absorption and photocatalytic efficiencies of TiO2 can be improved by coupling TiO2 nano-particles with nonmetallic dopants, such as carbon. In this paper, we describe the electrophoretic preparation of a novel TiO2-carbon nano-composite photocatalyst on a glass indium thin oxide (ITO) substrate. The objective is to take better advantage of the (e-/h+) pair generated by photoexcitation of semiconducting TiO2 particles. The transfer of electrons (e-) into adjacent carbon nano-particles promotes reduction of oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which, in the presence of iron ions, can subsequently form hydroxyl radicals (*OH) via the Fenton reaction. At the same time, *OH is formed from water by the (h+) holes in the TiO2. Thus, the *OH oxidant is produced by two routes. The efficiency of this photolytic-Fenton process was tested with a model organic compound, Orange-II (OG-II) azo dye, which is employed in the textile industry.
Peralta-Hernández
J M
JM
Electrochemistry Department, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica, Parque Tecnológico Querétaro Sanfandila, Pedro Escobedo, 76703 Querétaro, México.
Manríquez
J
J
Meas-Vong
Y
Y
Rodríguez
Francisco J
FJ
Chapman
Thomas W
TW
Maldonado
Manuel I
MI
Godínez
Luis A
LA
D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000737:chemistry; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D004586:Electrophoresis; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D001391:Azo Compounds; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; C045076:Fenton's reagent; C009495:titanium dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D014025:Titanium; D007501:Iron; C014722:2-naphthol orange