Titanium dioxide modification with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for photocatalysis

Abstract

Liquid phase plasma (LPP) method was used to synthesize a photocatalyst that can respond to visible light by precipitating cobalt oxide nanoparticles on the surface of TiO2 powders. Uniform precipitation of cobalt oxide nanoparticles on the surface of TiO2 powders was observed, resulting in successful synthesis of Co oxide nanoparticles on TiO2 photocatalysts (CTP). The CTP synthesized in this study showed a photocatalytic activity under visible blue light. However, its photocatalytic activity was lower than that of bare TiO2 under UV light because the cobalt oxide precipitate acted as crystal defects deteriorating the catalytic activity.