Blue/green/red colour emitting up-conversion phosphors coupled C-TiO2 composites with UV, visible and NIR responsive photocatalytic performance

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 156-157; pp. 257 - 264
• Main Authors: Wu, Xiaoyong, Yin, Shu, Dong, Qiang, Sato, Tsugio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.09.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: C-TiO2; Catalysis; Chemistry; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Infrared light; Photocatalytic activity; Photochemistry; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Up-conversion phosphor; Photocatalytic activity; Composites; Up-conversion phosphor; Infrared light; C-TiO2; Heterogeneous catalysis; C-TiO; Photocatalysis; Transition element compounds; Titanium oxide; Conversion; Composite material; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2014.03.028

•Blue/green/red colours emitting up-conversion phosphor coupled C-TiO2 were prepared.•Weak UV, visible LEDs and 980nm infrared laser were used as exciting sources.•RhB solution and continuous NO gas were utilized as photocatalytic targets.•Outstanding photocatalytic ability was presented under different light sources.•The photonic efficiency of photocatalytic performance was calculated. The composites of C-TiO2 coupled with blue, green and red of three colours emitting up-conversion phosphors have been prepared by a simple calcination assisted solvothermal method. The composites of the narrow band gap of C-TiO2 and the unique optical property of up-conversion phosphors enabled to absorb UV, visible and NIR lights simultaneously to proceed photocatalytic reactions effectively. The photocatalytic activities of the composites were evaluated not only for the degradation of RhB solution under NIR light irradiation but also for the destruction of continuous NO gas under the irradiation of UV, visible LEDs and infrared laser. According to the photocatalytic results, the calculated photonic efficiency of infrared light induced photocatalytic activity of samples was much higher than those of UV and visible light responsive ones. Furthermore, the green light emitting up-conversion phosphor coupled C-TiO2 composite presented the superior photocatalytic performance over blue and red ones.