Polymer dots grafted TiO2 nanohybrids as high performance visible light photocatalysts. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Gen; Wang, Feng; Liu, Peng; Chen, Zheming; Lei, Ping; Xu, Zhongshan; Li, Zengxi; Ding, Yanfen; Zhang, Shimin; Yang, Mingshu
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 197(2018)
• Page Start: 526
• Page End: 534
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: TiO2 -- Polymer dots -- Visible light -- Photocatalyst; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.01.071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: As a new member of carbon dots (CDs), Polymer dots (PDs) prepared by hydrothermal treatment of polymers, usually consist of the carbon core and the connected partially degraded polymer chains. This type of CDs might possess aqueous solubility, non-toxicity, excellent stability against photo-bleaching and high visible light activity. In this research, PDs were prepared by a moderate hydrothermal treatment of polyvinyl alcohol, and PDs grafted TiO2 (PDs-TiO2 ) nanohybrids with TiOC bonds were prepared by a facile in-situ hydrothermal treatment of PDs and Ti (SO4 )2 . Under visible light irradiation, the PDs-TiO2 demonstrate excellent photocatalytic activity for methyl orange degradation, and the photocatalytic rate constant of PDs-TiO2 is 3.6 and 9.5 times higher than that of pure TiO2 and commercial P25, respectively. In addition, the PDs-TiO2 exhibit good recycle stability under UV–Vis light irradiation. The interfacial TiOC bonds and the π-conjugated structures in PDs-TiO2 can act as the pathways to quickly transfer the excited electrons between PDs and TiO2, therefore contribute to the excellent photocatalytic activity. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: PDs grafted TiO2 nanohybrids were prepared for the first time. PDs-TiO2 exhibits excellent visible light photocatalytic activity. PDs can extend light absorption and suppress charge recombination of TiO2 . TiOC bonds and π-conjugated structures can transfer the excited electrons.