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Efficient TiO 2 Photocatalysts from Surface Hybridization of TiO 2 Particles with Graphite‐like Carbon
Author(s) -
Zhang LiWu,
Fu HongBo,
Zhu YongFa
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200701478
Subject(s) - materials science , photocatalysis , graphite , carbon fibers , irradiation , visible spectrum , photochemistry , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , composite material , catalysis , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , composite number , nuclear physics , engineering
Surface hybridization of TiO 2 with graphite‐like carbon layers of a few molecular layers thickness yields efficient photocatalysts. Photoelectrochemical measurements confirm an electronic interaction between TiO 2 and the graphite‐like carbon. A TiO 2 photocatalyst with a carbon shell of three molecular layers thickness (∼1 nm) shows the highest photocatalytic activity which is about two times higher than that of Degussa P25 TiO 2 under UV light irradiation. The mechanism of the enhanced photocatalytic activity under UV irradiation is based on the high migration efficiency of photoinduced electrons at the graphite‐like carbon/TiO 2 interface, which is due to the electronic interaction between both materials. In addition, a high activity under visible light irradiation is observed after graphite‐like carbon hybridization. TiO 2 's response is extended into the visible range of the solar spectrum due to the electronic coupling of π states of the graphite‐like carbon and conduction band states of TiO 2 .