Spectra analysis and O₂ evolution for TiO₂ photocatalyst compounded with indirect transition semiconductors

Abstract

The photo absorbing, photo transmitting and photoluminescence performances of TiO₂ photocatalysts compounded with V₂O₅ or WO₃ were investigated by UV-Vis spectra, transmitting spectra, and PL spectra, respectively. The energy band structures of TiO₂ photocatalysts were analyzed. The photocatalytic activities of the TiO₂ photocatalysts were investigated by splitting of water for O₂ evolution. The results indicate that the band gaps of WO₃ and V₂O₅ are about 2.8 and 2.14 eV, respectively, and the band gap of rutile TiO₂ is about 3.08 eV. Speeds of water splitting for 2%WO₃-TiO₂ and 8%V₂O₅-TiO₂ photocatalysts are 420 and 110 μmol/(L·h), respectively, under UV light irradiation. V₂O₅ and WO₃ compounded with suitable concentration can improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ with Fe³⁺ as electron acceptor.

Keywords

TiO₂ photocatalyst / indirect transition semiconductor / spectra analysis / photo splitting water / O₂ evolution

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