Fabrication of branched-TiO2 microrods on the FTO glass for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) under visible-light irradiation

It is important to prepare a visible-light responsive photocatalyts, which has enhanced absorbance in the range of visible-light. In addition, metal nanoparticles deposited on TiO2 induced the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), and thus enhanced the photocatalytic activity. Herein, TiO2 microrods with nano-branch (B-TiO2) on the fluorine-doped tin oxide glass (FTO) was prepared by hydrothermal method, and AuNPs was deposited on the B-TiO2. Its photocatalytic activity was evaluated by reduction of toxic Cr(VI) to less-toxic Cr(III) under visible-light irradiation. AuNPs/B-TiO2/FTO was successfully photocatalytic reduced target ions and Cr(III) ions were also removed from aqueous phase. (C) 2019 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.