Low-density ZnTiO3–ceramic hollow microsphere composite photocatalyst for degradation of azophloxine

Abstract

Zinc titanate was supported on a ceramic hollow microsphere (CHM) to prepare a low-density χZnTiO3/CHM composite. χZnTiO3/CHM is used for large-scale water treatment, and the separation of this composite from water is convenient. The crystallite sizes of ZnTiO3 crystals in ZnTiO3 and the 40%ZnTiO3/CHM composite were calculated to be 43.5 and 26.8 nm, respectively. The particle size of the 40%ZnTiO3/CHM composite was ∼100 μm. The bandgap energies of ZnTiO3 and 40%ZnTiO3/CHM were calculated to be 3.95 and 3.83 eV, respectively. The ZnTiO3 layer in the 40%ZnTiO3/CHM composite is responsible for nearly all the surface area and pores in the composite. A total of 81.9% of the initial azophloxine was degraded after 30 min of reaction in the presence of the 40%ZnTiO3/CHM composite. All the organic groups in azophloxine were degraded during the photocatalytic reaction. The photocatalytic activity of the 40%ZnTiO3/CHM composite was stable in six degradation cycles.