Journal
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
Volume 232, Issue -, Pages 501-511Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.03.078
Keywords
Photocatalysis; Titania; Mesoporous; Copper; XAS
Funding
- EPSRC [EP/K021796/1, EP/K029525/2]
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Tailoring the physicochemical properties and hence reactivity of semiconductor photocatalysts in a predictable fashion, remains a challenge to their industrial application. Here we demonstrate the striking promotional effect of incorporating single Cu(I) atoms, on aqueous phase photocatalytic dye degradation and H-2 production over surfactant-templated mesoporous TiO2. X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals that ultra-low concentrations of copper (0.02-0.1 wt%) introduced into the mesoporous TiO2 surface create isolated Cu (I) species which suppress charge recombination, and confer a six-fold photocatalytic promotion of Methyl Orange degradation and four-fold enhancement of H-2 evolution. The impact of mesopore structure and photophysical properties on photocatalytic activity is also quantified for the first time: calcination increases mesopore size and nanocrystalline order, and induces an anatase to rutile phase transition that is accompanied by a decrease in the optical band gap, increased charge carrier lifetime, and a concomitant significant activity enhancement.
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