Solvothermal synthesis of WO3/TiO2/carbon fiber composite photocatalysts for enhanced performance under sunlight illumination

Carbon fiber (CF)‐based WO3/TiO2 composite catalysts (WO3/TiO2/CF) were successfully synthesized by solvothermal method. The catalysts were characterized by XPS, SEM, BET, XRD, FTIR, Raman and UV–Vis. The analyses confirmed the WO3/TiO2 nanoparticles with high crystallinity deposited on the carbon s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Photochemistry and photobiology 2019-11, Vol.95 (6), p.1331-1338
Main Authors: Balta, Zeynep, Bilgin Simsek, Esra, Berek, Dusan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Azo dyes
Carbon
Carbon fibers
Catalysts
Chemical synthesis
Dosage
Dyes
Electrical properties
Fiber composites
Illumination
Nanoparticles
Orange II
Performance enhancement
Photocatalysis
Photodegradation
Sunlight
Titanium dioxide
Tungsten oxides
X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
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Summary:Carbon fiber (CF)‐based WO3/TiO2 composite catalysts (WO3/TiO2/CF) were successfully synthesized by solvothermal method. The catalysts were characterized by XPS, SEM, BET, XRD, FTIR, Raman and UV–Vis. The analyses confirmed the WO3/TiO2 nanoparticles with high crystallinity deposited on the carbon structure. The photocatalytic degradation of Orange II azo dye under UV and sunlight illumination with the synthesized catalyst was explored. The composite catalyst displayed high performance (85%) for Orange II degradation while that of for WO3/TiO2 was found as 76%. The effects of CF amount, solution pH, initial dye concentration and catalyst dose on photocatalytic performance were studied. It was found that the degradation efficiency increased from 68% to 90% with the increasing CF amount from 3 wt% to 5 wt%, while the further increase in CF amount (7–10 wt%) decreased the photodegradation due to the blocking the active sites of WO3/TiO2. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency was mainly attributed to the electrical properties of the CF and reduced bandgap. Visible light activated WO3/TiO2/Carbon fiber composite catalysts were prepared by solvothermal technique. Characterization tests showed successful functionalization of the WO3/TiO2 nanoparticles with CFs. The ternary composite catalyst displayed superior photocatalytic activity when compared with WO3/CF and WO3/TiO2 catalysts under both UV‐A and visible light illumination. The remarkable photocatalytic activity of the WO3/TiO2/CF composite catalyst can be dedicated to (1) coupling effect of TiO2 and WO3, reduced bandgap; (2) decreased electron–hole recombination rate due to electron trapping by carbon fiber’s conduction band; and (3) as well as synergetic effect between adsorption and photocatalysis.
ISSN:0031-8655
1751-1097
DOI:10.1111/php.13117