title: Enhanced photocatalytic, electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2nanotubes arrays modified with Cu, AgCu and Bi nanoparticles obtained via radiolytic reduction.
abstract: TiO2nanotubes arrays (NTs), obtained via electrochemical anodization of Ti foil, were modified with monometallic (Cu, Bi) and bimetallic (AgCu) nanoparticles. Different amounts of metals' precursors were deposited on the surface of NTs by the spin-coating technique, and the reduction of metals was performed via gamma radiolysis. Surface modification of titania was studied by EDS and XPS analysis. The results show that AgCu nanoparticles exist in a Agcore-Cushellform. Photocatalytic activity was examined under UV irradiation and phenol was used as a model pollutant of water. Over 95% of phenol degradation was achieved after 60 min of irradiation for almost all examined samples, but only slight difference in degradation efficiency (about 3%) between modified and bare NTs was observed. However, the initial phenol degradation rate and TOC removal efficiency was significantly enhanced for the samples modified with 0.31 and 0.63 mol% of Bi as well as for all the samples modified with Cu and AgCu nanoparticles in comparison with bare titania nanotubes. The saturated photocurrent, under the influence of simulated solar light irradiation, for the most active Bi- and AgCu-modified samples, was over two times higher than for pristine NTs. All the examined materials were resistant towards photocorrosion processes that enables their application for long term processes induced by light.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 G. Narutowicza 11/12 St., 80-233 Gdansk, Poland; Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, 63 Wita Stwosza St., 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nischk
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, 63 Wita Stwosza St., 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazierski
authors.affiliation: Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University, N21, W10, 001-0021, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Zhishun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Centre for Plasma and Laser Engineering, The Szewalski Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, 14 Fiszera St., 80-231 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Siuzdak
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, CNRS-UMR 8000,Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Bâtiment 349, 91405 Orsay, France.
authors.forename: Natalie Amoin
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kouame
authors.affiliation: Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University, N21, W10, 001-0021, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kowalska
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, CNRS-UMR 8000,Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Bâtiment 349, 91405 Orsay, France.
authors.forename: Hynd
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Remita
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, 63 Wita Stwosza St., 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaleska-Medynska
keywords: Metal nanoparticles; Phenol degradation; Photoelectrochemical performance; Radiolysis; TiO2 nanotubes