Synthesis of Au-decorated three-phase-mixed TiO2/phosphate modified active carbon nanocomposites as easily-recycled efficient photocatalysts for degrading high-concentration 2,4-DCP.

Abstract

It is of great significance to fabricate easily-recycled TiO2 photocatalysts with high activity. Herein, dominant-anatase three-phase (anatase/rutile/brookite)-mixed nanosized TiO2 with high photocatalytic activity for degrading a high-concentration of 2,4-DCP has been synthesized via a hydrothermal process with HCl as a phase-directing agent, and interestingly the apparent photoactivity could be greatly improved by decorating Au nanoparticles and then coupling phosphate-treated active carbon. The amount-optimized nanocomposite displays ∼12-fold enhancement in degradation rate constant (k) compared to anatase TiO2. Based on the steady-state surface photovoltage spectra, fluorescence spectra related to the produced ·OH amount, temperature-programmed desorption and O2 electrochemical reduction curves, it is confirmed that the exceptional photoactivity is mainly attributed to the greatly-enhanced charge separation from the phase-mixed composition, and from the decorated Au as electron acceptors and its promotion effects on O2 activation. Moreover, the use of phosphate-modified AC as a support is also positive for efficient photocatalytic reactions by accepting electrons and concentrating the pollutants, with recyclable features. This work provides a feasible strategy to fabricate TiO2-based nano-photocatalysts for degrading high-concentration pollutants to remediate the environment.