Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity ofV2O5Cluster Modified N-DopedTiO2for Degradation of Toluene in Air

Abstract

V2O5cluster-modified N-doped TiO2(N-TiO2/V2O5) nanocomposites photocatalyst was prepared by a facile impregnation-calcination method. The effects of V2O5cluster loading content on visible light photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples were investigated for degradation of toluene in air. The results showed that the visible light activity of N-doped TiO2was significantly enhanced by loading V2O5clusters. The optimal V2O5loading content was found to be 0.5 wt.%, reaching a removal ratio of 52.4% and a rate constant of 0.027 min−1, far exceeding that of unmodified N-doped TiO2. The enhanced activity is due to the deposition of V2O5clusters on the surface of N-doped TiO2. The conduction band (CB) potential of V2O5(0.48 eV) is lower than the CB level of N-doped TiO2(−0.19 V), which favors the photogenerated electron transfer from CB of N-doped TiO2to V2O5clusters. This function of V2O5clusters helps promote the transfer and separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. The present work not only displays a feasible route for the utilization of low cost V2O5clusters as a substitute for noble metals in enhancing the photocatalysis but also demonstrates a facile method for preparation of highly active composite photocatalyst for large-scale applications.