Surface hybridization effect of C-60 molecules on TiO2 and enhancement of the photocatalytic activity

An efficient TiO2 photocatalyst was obtained by surface hybridization with a thin layer of C-60 molecules. The photocatalytic performance of C-60-hybridized TiO2 under ultraviolet light irradiation was enhanced by 4 times compared with that of P25-TiO2 photocatalyst. The enhanced photocatalytic activity for C-60-hybridized TiO2 was originated from the high migration efficiency of photo-induced electrons on the interface of C-60 and TiO2, which was produced by the interaction TiO2 and C-60 with a conjugative pi-system. The interaction was confirmed by the Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and photo-electrochemical measurements. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity strongly depended on the coverage of C-60 molecules on the surface of TiO2, and the optimum hybridization effect was found at a weight ratio of 2.5 wt% (C-60/TiO2). The mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2 by C-60 was discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.