Photo-electronic behavior of Cu2O- and/or CeO2-loaded TiO2/carbon cluster nanocomposite materials

Abstract

Nano-sized TiO2/carbon cluster composite materials have been successfully prepared for the first time by calcination of TiO(OCOCH3CHCOCH3)2/starch complexes in air. The surface of composite materials was modified with nano-sized Cu2O and CeO2 particles, followed by the subsequent modification of Pt particles. The composition of the synthesized composite materials was determined using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy, elemental analysis and surface characterization by transmission electron microscopy. The reduction reaction of methylene blue with the calcined materials under the visible light irradiation has also been examined. The composite material reduced the methylene blue under the irradiation of visible light (λ>460nm). The metal oxide-loaded composite materials could also decompose an aqueous silver nitrate solution by visible light irradiation and give O2 and Ag.