Preparation of TiO2/(TiO2–V2O5)/polypyrrole nanocomposites and a study on catalytic activities of the hybrid materials under UV/Visible light and in the dark

Abstract

Hybrid metal oxides/polymer nanocomposites, namely TiO2/(TiO2–V2O5)/polypyrrole (PPy), were synthesized via in situ polymerization. Structures of the products were characterized by SEM–EDX, XRD, and FTIR techniques. The light absorbance and band gap energy values of the materials were evaluated by UV/Visible spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the materials was determined from a degradation of methylene blue. It was found that, regardless of the polymerization time, the absorbance of TiO2/(TiO2–V2O5)/PPy was greater than those of TiO2/PPy and the neat TiO2, respectively. This was in accordance with the decrease in the band gap energy of the materials. The catalytic activity of TiO2/(TiO2–V2O5) was also observed in the dark. After polymerization, the catalytic activity of nanocomposite under UV/Visible light and in the dark was compromised. The above effects are discussed in the light of the energy storage ability of V2O5 and capability of the polymer in acting as a binder for the system.