WO3-modified TiO2 nanotubes for photocatalytic elimination of methylethylketone under UVA and solar light irradiation

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. A, Chemistry. Vol. 245; pp. 43 - 57
• Main Authors: Yamin, Yas, Keller, Nicolas, Keller, Valérie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2012
• Subjects: irradiation; Methylethylketone elimination; nanotubes; Photocatalysis; photocatalysts; Semiconductor coupling; sodium hydroxide; Solar light activation; TiO2 nanotubes; titanium dioxide; tungsten oxide; UV-A activation; WO3 modification; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Photocatalysis; Semiconductor coupling; WO3 modification; TiO2 nanotubes; Methylethylketone elimination; Solar light activation; UV-A activation
• ISSN: 1010-6030; 1873-2666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2012.06.021

[Display omitted] ► Modification of TiO2 nanotubes with WO3 particles. ► UV-A and solar light activation. ► Optimization of the photocatalytic activity of WO3-modified TiO2 nanotubes. ► Influence of WO3 concentration on the activity and on the deactivation phenomena. ► Heterojunction formation between WO3 and TiO2 semiconductors. We report on the synthesis, the characterizations and the photocatalytic activity of WO3/TiO2 nanotubes for methylethylketone (MEK) elimination under both UVA and simulated-solar light irradiations. TiO2 nanotubes (TiNTs) were synthetized using the hydrothermal method in a concentrated 10M NaOH solution heated at 130°C during 48h, post-impregnated with tungstate salt and finally calcined. The photocatalytic efficiency for both UVA and solar light irradiation strongly depends on the WO3 content, ranging from 4 to 51wt.%. The different photocatalytic activities were analysed, in terms of initial and stabilized activities and deactivation phenomena. Complementary post-tests characterizations (TGA and XPS) aiming at the establishment of correlations between WO3 content, surface composition, surface species and the photocatalytic activity and deactivation are discussed.