Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic behavior of WO3-fullerene/TiO2 catalysts under visible light.

Ze-Da Meng, Lei Zhu, Jong-Geun Choi, Chong-Yeon Park, Won-Chun Oh

Index: Nanoscale Res. Lett. 6(1) , 459, (2011)

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Abstract

WO3-treated fullerene/TiO2 composites (WO3-fullerene/TiO2) were prepared using a sol-gel method. The composite obtained was characterized by BET surface area measurements, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-vis analysis. A methyl orange (MO) solution under visible light irradiation was used to determine the photocatalytic activity. Excellent photocatalytic degradation of a MO solution was observed using the WO3-fullerene, fullerene-TiO2, and WO3-fullerene/TiO2 composites under visible light. An increase in photocatalytic activity was observed, and WO3-fullerene/TiO2 has the best photocatalytic activity; it may attribute to the increase of the photo-absorption effect by the fullerene and the cooperative effect of the WO3.