Cu and Zr surface sites in photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles: The effect of Zr distribution

Abstract

Highlights  Zirconium loading improves mechanical properties of TiO2 photocatalytic layers.  High coper loading is harmful for photocatalytic performance.  Combined Cu/Zr modification of mixed phase TiO2 is beneficial for dye degradation.

Thermo-Optical Characterization of Cu- and Zr-Modified TiO2 Photocatalysts by Beam Deflection Spectrometry

“…The particle size of the pure TiO 2 crystallite material did not change substantially when introducing Cu and Zr particles, as demonstrated in a previous study [28]. Their average size lies around 25 nm for both unmodified and modified samples.…”

“…The addition of Zr to the TiO 2 lattice results in an increase in the material surface area. This in turn enables better pollutant adsorption on the material and consequently more efficient photodegradation [26][27][28][29] and thus improves the photocatalytic properties. Additionally, an enhanced surface area favorizes the absorption of incoming photons, which results in higher light absorption at the surface of the photocatalyst.…”

Self-assembled synthesis of oxygen-doped g-C3N4 nanotubes in enhancement of visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen

“…Among in above features, the expansion of photo response range and improvement of the photogenerated carriers' separation efficiency are beneficial for improving photocatalytic performance of OCN nanotubes. However, feature of the VB's upward shift and the CB's downward shift is unbeneficial because the smaller the energy level gap between the band positions of semiconductor catalyst and redox agent, the smaller the transfer rate between the photo-generated carriers in catalyst and the reactants [60,62]. An optimal oxygen doping concentration can attain the highest HER performance for the sample.…”