Synthesis of Pd-Based Nanoparticles and Its Photocatalytic Activity for Organic Compounds Decomposition

Abstract

Oxide supported metal catalysts are widely recognized as an important photocatalyst because of its peculiar chemical and physical behaviors. Owing to its high reactivity, low cost and stability, TiO2 is one of the most extensivley studied photocatlaysts.1 However, for indoor applications, the faction of UV light available is very low. Hence, visble light photocatalysts are needed as an alternative of UV light photocatalysts. Recently, it hase been reported that Pt loaded WO3 exhibits high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic compounds under visible light.2 However, the high cost of Pt has been the primary impediment for the use of Pt loaded WO3 in indoor applications. The loading of other noble metals, such as Au, Pd, and Ag can also used as cocatalysts to enhance the photocatalytic activity of WO3. Among them Pd is one of the most effective cocatalyst because of the cost of the Pd is approximately one-fifth that of Pt and also shows enhanced charge separation lead to effective photocatalytic activity towards volatile organic compounds. In this study, Pd and Pd based binary cocatalysts were prepared and subsequently characterized and we have demonstrated the enhancement of visible light photocatalytic activity of WO3in the decomposition of organic compounds. The details about the synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of catalysts would be discussed in the presentation.