Preparation of bentonite supported nano titanium dioxide photocatalysts by electrostatic self-assembly method

Abstract

Electrostatic self-assembly method (ESAM) was used to prepare bentonite supported-nano titanium dioxide photocatalysts. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Methyl orange was used to estimate the photocatalytic activity of the materials. The effects of the calcination temperature and silane dosage on the photocatalytic activity of the samples were investigated. The experimental results show that the bentonite facilitates the formation of anatase and restrains the transformation of anatase to rutile. Part of nano-size TiO₂ particles insert into the galleries of bentonite. The photocatalysts exhibit a synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis on methyl orange. Photocatalysts prepared by ESAM method exhibit higher photocatalytic activity and better recycle ability than those of the traditional method.

Keywords

electrostatic self-assembly / bentonite / nano titanium dioxide / photocatalyst

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