TiO 2/polyaniline composites: An efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue under natural light

Abstract

Polyaniline (PAn) sensitized nanocrystalline TiO 2 composites (TiO 2/PAn) were successfully prepared and used as an efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of dye methylene blue (MB). The results showed that PAn was able to sensitize TiO 2 efficiently and the composite photocatalyst could be activated by absorbing both the ultraviolet and visible light ( λ: 190 ∼ 800 nm), whereas pure TiO 2 absorbed ultraviolet light only ( λ < 380 nm). Under the irradiation of natural light, MB could be degraded more efficiently on the TiO 2/PAn composites than on the TiO 2. Furthermore, it could be easily separated from the solution by simple sedimentation.