Photocatalysis by Electron Transfer between Different-sized Anatases

Abstract

In the solution state, photocatalysis of micro- and nano-sized anatases can be optimized at flat band and in a high pH solution, respectively. Furthermore, a remarkable photocatalyst that can be adopted over a wide range of pH values was produced by mixing commercial micro- and nano-sized anatases. Mixing causes the electron transfer between the identical phase but different-sized TiO 2 particles, subsequently separating the electrons and holes, as well as greatly facilitating photocatalysis. As is well known, the commercially available photocatalyst P25, a mixture of anatase and rutile, achieves a superior photocatalytic performance from pH 3 to 10, owing to the electron transfer between the various phases. This study elucidates these mixed photocatalysts, P25 and mixture of micro and nano-sized anatases.