title: Band gap narrowing of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocrystals by electrochemically active biofilms and their visible light activity.
abstract: We report a simple biogenic-route to narrow the band gap of TiO2 nanocrystals for visible light application by offering a greener method. When an electrochemically active biofilm (EAB) was challenged with a solution of Degussa-TiO2 using sodium acetate as the electron donor, greyish blue-colored TiO2 nanocrystals were obtained. A band gap study showed that the band gap of the modified TiO2 nanocrystals was significantly reduced (E(g) = 2.85 eV) compared to the unmodified white Degussa TiO2 (E(g) = 3.10 eV).
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk 712-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Shafeer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalathil
authors.forename: Mohammad Mansoob
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Sajid Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Jintae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Moo Hwan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D002384:Catalysis; D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D008027:Light; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009596:Nitrophenols; C009495:titanium dioxide; D002563:Cerium; C030583:ceric oxide; D014025:Titanium; D008751:Methylene Blue; C024836:4-nitrophenol