Modification of TiO2 nanotubes by WO3 species for improving their photocatalytic activity

WO3/TiO2 nanotubular composite was synthesized at low temperature (383 K) by a novel approach. WO3 nanoparticles were loaded on anatase TiO2 nanotubes through the reaction between (NH4)(6)W7O24 center dot 6H(2)O and aqueous solution of HCl. The obtained products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS). Degradation of methyl orange was employed to investigate the photocatalytic activity of the products. Results show that, among the samples with different concentrations of WO3, W10T with the atomic ratio W/Ti of 10% presents optimal degradation rate. This degradation rate is about 95% within 2h under UV light irradiation, which is much higher than that of pure TiO2 nanotubes. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.