Abstract
In this study, the effects of disperse blue dye-sensitization on the photocatalytic properties of the Ag-N co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles loaded on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) filaments are investigated under visible light irradiation. The microstructure and photocatalytic properties of the as-synthesized TiO2 nanocomposites, as well as the as-prepared PET filaments, are systematically characterized. The photocatalytic performance of the PET filaments coated with the Ag-N co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles sensitized with disperse blue dyes is evaluated via its capacity of photo-degrading methyl orange (MO) dyes under visible light irradiation. It is found that the holes are the predominant reactive radical species and the hydroxyl and superoxide radicals play a subordinate role in the photocatalytic reaction process. The reaction rate constant of the photocatalytic composite filaments is nearly 4.0 times higher than that of the PET filaments loaded solely with TiO2 nanoparticles. The resultant photocatalytic composite filaments are evident to be capable of repeatedly photo-degrading MO dyes without losing its photocatalytic activity significantly.
Highlights
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely exploited as an efficient photocatalytic semiconductor for the photo-oxidation of a vast variety of organic contaminants because of its low cost, low toxicity, abundance, photo-corrosion resistance, thermal and chemical stability and high oxidation ability [1]
The particle sizes measured from the high-resolution FESEM images (Figure 1g,i) are slightly reduced after the disperse blue dye is presented in the TiO2 nanoparticles
The enhanced photocatalytic activity of a composite photocatalyst composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) filaments loaded with Ag-N co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles sensitized with water-insoluble disperse blue 183 dye, which was formed in a facile one-step hydrothermal process, under visible light irradiation was achieved
Summary
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely exploited as an efficient photocatalytic semiconductor for the photo-oxidation of a vast variety of organic contaminants because of its low cost, low toxicity, abundance, photo-corrosion resistance, thermal and chemical stability and high oxidation ability [1]. Because of its relatively wide band gap and low separation efficiency of photo-generated charge carrier, enormous efforts have been made to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 like nonmetal [2] and metal [3] doping, dye sensitization [4], defect engineering [5] and constructing hierarchical structures [6]. The synergetic mechanism of metal and nonmetal elements co-doping and dye sensitization on the photocatalytic activities of TiO2 nanoparticles under visible light irradiation is investigated. In comparison with the PET filaments coated with TiO2 nanoparticles, the photocatalytic PET filaments coated with Ag nanoparticle decorated, N element doped and dye-sensitized TiO2 particles exhibit much enhanced light absorption capacity, efficient separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs and substantial photocatalytic activity in degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye under visible-light irradiation. The resultant new PET fibrous composite photocatalyst loaded with Ag-N co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles could be a new environmentally friendly solution of treating various wastewater from textile, leather and printing industries under visible lights
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