TiO2 Hybridized with Natural Ilmenite Nanocomposites for Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Abstract The activated ilmenite nanocomposite of TiO2 hybridized were prepared by natural ilmenite and commercial TiO2 anatase assembled using sugar as cross-link agents and carbon source. The heterostructure interface of anatase-ilmenite junction, crystallinity and chemical state were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Composite morphologies and structures were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Synergistic of low energy gap in range of visible light and interfacial charge separate from TiO2 to ilmenite junction was evaluated in photocatalytic degradation of organic dye. The result from visible light catalytic dye degradation suggests that narrow bandgap energy is associated to ilmenite phase and sensitization by carbon with low recombination rate of generated electron-hole pair transfer. This mechanism occurred by multiphase junction could enhance visible light photocatalytic activity.