Enhanced Photocatalysis of Yittium-Doped TiO2/D-PVA Composites: Degradation of Methyl Orange (MO) and PVC Film

A novel triple-component TiO2/D-PVA/Y3+ photocatalyst have been synthesized in one portion of polyvinylalcohol (PVA), Ti(OH)(4) and Y(NO3)(3)center dot 6H(2)O(Y3+) by means of hydrothermal method to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 under UV-vis light. The relationship between effect of preparation conditions and visible light (VL) photocatalytic activity was investigated. The as-prepared triple photocatalyst (TiO2/D-PVA/Y3+) was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results shows that the TiO2/D-PVA/Y3+ possess higher photocatalytic activity than pure TiO2 and TiO2/D-PVA for the methyl orange (MO) degradation under UV-vis light irradiation. With the 1: 1.008 feed ratio of Y3+ to TiO2, the TiO2/D-PVA/Y3+ exhibited a significant VL activity. The TiO2/D-PVA/Y3+-PVC films degradation under UV-vis light was also studied.