Study on the preparation and photocatalytic oxidation properties of TiO2/nano-Fe0 photocatalysts

TiO 2 /nano-Fe 0 composite photocatalysts were prepared via a liquid phase reduction deposition method using anatase nano-TiO 2 as a deposition substrate. The morphology and structure of TiO 2 /nano-Fe 0 photocatalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-vis absorption spectra. The results showed that this composite photocatalyst can be homogeneously distributed and forms a jellyfish structure after combining with the TiO 2 nanoparticles. The composite of nano-Fe 0 and TiO 2 could effectively compensate the consumption of nano-Fe 0 and promote the generation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) by a synergistic effect and the dynamic circulation reaction mechanism. Furthermore, the formation of a heterojunction structure between nano-Fe 0 and TiO 2 not only makes this composite photocatalyst have a higher catalytic efficiency in the visible region by the photo-response redshift effect, but also blocks the recombination of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The degradation efficiency for the Acid Red B solution was used to evaluate the activity of this composite photocatalyst. The effects of pH, dissolved oxygen and nano-Fe 0 loading ratio on degradation efficiency of the Acid Red B were investigated and optimized. This composite photocatalyst possessed the highest photocatalytic activity under acidic and oxic conditions with the optimal loading of Fe 0 of 10 wt%. In addition, TiO 2 /nano-Fe 0 shows a higher catalytic activity than TiO 2 or nano-Fe 0 alone. The XRD patterns of catalysts before and after reaction proved that this composite photocatalyst was durable and stable, which is due to the dynamic circulation reaction mechanism. TiO 2 /nano-Fe 0 composite photocatalysts were prepared via a liquid phase reduction deposition method using anatase nano-TiO 2 as a deposition substrate.