Surface Modification of TiO sub(2) by a Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complex via Silyl-Linkage for the Sensitized Photocatalytic Degradation of Carbon Tetrachloride by Visible Irradiation

Silylated tris(3-pyridin-2-yl)pyrazole) ruthenium(II) was used as a photosensitizer to modify anatase titanium dioxide, which was then evaluated for the photodegradation of carbon tetrachloride via visible irradiation. Synthesis of the photosensitizer is described. Results indicated that the silyl anchoring group was an ideal surface modification moiety for TiO sub(2) due to the high affinity of the silyl functionality for the hydroxyl groups on the surface of the semiconductor. Under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, the photosensitized TiO sub(2) material mediated the photodegradation of CCl sub(4), with the degradation kinetics fitting the Langmuir Henshelwood type rate law.