Singlet oxygen photogeneration and 2,4,6-TCP photodegradation at Pt/TiO2 under visible light illumination?

RSC Advances Pub Date: 2012-10-22 DOI: 10.1039/C2RA21661B

Abstract

Pure and Pt nanoparticle-modified rutile TiO2 were synthesized via hydrolysis of TiCl4 in the absence or presence of Pt nanoparticles. HRTEM, XRD, and SEM were used to characterize the structure of the prepared catalysts. The resulting modified TiO2 catalysts show extended visible light absorbance. Photodegradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) over these photocatalysts was investigated under visible light illumination. The Pt nanoparticles facilitate the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs at low Pt content, then enhances the photodegradation rate of 2,4,6-TCP. 0.18Pt–TiO2 achieved the best photocatalytic activity among the tested catalysts. It was found that singlet oxygen rather than ˙OH acts as the main oxidative species for the degradation of 2,4,6-TCP according to the experimental results. The degradation intermediates of 2,4,6-TCP were identified and the degradation pathway was proposed. Pt nanoparticles on TiO2 significantly enhance O2 adsorption and the formation of ˙O2?. The rutile surface is a favorable condition for stabilizing ˙O2?. These properties of the Pt nanoparticle-modified rutile TiO2 facilitate the formation of 1O2via the reaction of superoxide anions with holes.

Graphical abstract: Singlet oxygen photogeneration and 2,4,6-TCP photodegradation at Pt/TiO2 under visible light illumination
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