Porous silica matrix as an efficient strategy to boosted photocatalytic performance of titania/carbon composite

• Published in: Diamond and related materials Vol. 125; p. 109027
• Main Authors: Dymerska, Anna, Zielińska, Beata, Sielicki, Krzysztof, Chen, Xuecheng, Mijowska, Ewa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aminopropyltriethoxysilane; Biocompatibility; Carbon; Catalytic activity; Methylene blue; Molecular hybrid; Nanoparticles; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Photoelectric effect; Porous media; Silica/carbon matrix; Silicon dioxide; Titanium dioxide; Ultraviolet radiation; Water treatment; Molecular hybrid; Titanium dioxide; Photocatalysis; Silica/carbon matrix; Methylene blue
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2022.109027

Semiconductor based photocatalysis is considered as a promising route for remediation of polluted water. However, there is still intensive research to overcome high recombination rate of electrons and holes, and low reaction rate, limiting large-scale applications. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on the fabrication of the optimal photocatalysts which could be practically utilized. In this contribution, we propose a composite composed of ultrasmall TiO2 nanoparticles embedded in silica/carbon matrix. This molecular hybrid was fabricated via anchoring a (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane on a surface of TiO2 and then the composite was encapsulated in a carbon sphere-like structure formed with biocompatible glucose as carbon precursor. As a result, such a system exhibited impressive photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue as a model hazardous organic dye. Among examined catalysts, the sample calcinated at 500 °C showed the highest photocatalytic efficiency (~100% photodegradation under UV light after 120 min and ~11.0–fold higher reaction rate constant in comparison to pristine TiO2) and the most enhanced photocurrent response upon irradiation with light 388 nm (~0.74 μA, which is 1.37–fold more compared with TiO2). Therefore, we provide new insights into the fabrication of carbon-based inorganic composite, which have great potential in water treatment. [Display omitted] •Ti/Si/C-T heterostructure photocatalysts have been successfully prepared.•Ti/Si/C-T presented great photocatalytic activity in degrading methylene blue dye under UV-light irradiation.•The synergistic effect of photocatalysis on the separation and transfer of charge carriers was studied.•The involved ROS were revealed and the mechanism of photocatalytic separation and transfer of charge carriers was proposed.