TiO2 composite films on different substrates with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance

Abstract

For the sake of improving the photocatalytic performance of TiO2, we prepared the B/Ag/Fe tridoped TiO2 films on common glass and stone substrates by the sol–gel method. In this work, the optical absorption, recombination of photogenerated electrons (e−) and holes (h[Formula: see text]), crystal types, thermal stability, composition, specific surface area and photocatalytic activity of the modified TiO2 films were investigated. The results indicated that B/Ag/Fe tridoping not only enhanced the absorption of visible light by TiO2, but inhibited the recombination of electron–hole (e−/h[Formula: see text]) pairs. The tridoping also promoted the formation of anatase and prevented the transformation of anatase to rutile at high temperature. The composite TiO2 has a large specific surface area, about three times that of pure TiO2. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 films were evaluated by methyl green (MG) and formaldehyde degradation. In all samples, the B/Ag/Fe tridoped TiO2 film exhibited the highest degradation rate of MG under both ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. The improvement of photocatalytic performance of TiO2 films is due to the synergistic effect of the B/Ag/Fe tridoping, which enhances the absorption of visible light and prolongs the lifetime of e−/h[Formula: see text] pairs and facilitates transfer of interface charge.