Enhancement of the visible light photocatalytic performance of C-doped TiO2 by loading with V2O5

V2O5 was loaded on the surface of C-doped TiO2 (C-TiO2) by incipient wetness impregnation in order to enhance the visible light photocatalytic performance. The physicochemical properties of the C-TiO2/V2O5 composite were characterized by XRD, Raman, TEM, XPS, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and PL in detail. The result indicated that a heterojunction between C-TiO2 and V2O5 was formed and the separation of excited electron-hole pairs on C-TiO2/V2O5 is greatly promoted. Thus, this composite photocatalyst exhibited enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity in degradation of gas-phase toluene compared with the pristine C-TiO2. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.