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Cu meso-TiO2 Applied Catalysis B author accepted manuscript
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Journal | APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL |
---|---|
Date | Accepted/In press - 21 Mar 2018 |
Date | E-pub ahead of print - 22 Mar 2018 |
Date | Published (current) - 15 Sep 2018 |
Volume | 232 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Pages (from-to) | 501-511 |
Early online date | 22/03/18 |
Original language | English |
Tailoring the physicochemical properties and hence reactivity of semiconductor photocatalysts in a predictable fashion, remains a challenge to their industrial application. Here we demonstrate the striking promotional effect of incorporating single Cu(I) atoms, on aqueous phase photocatalytic dye degradation and H2 production over surfactant-templated mesoporous TiO2. X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals that ultra-low concentrations of copper (0.02–0.1 wt%) introduced into the mesoporous TiO2 surface create isolated Cu (I) species which suppress charge recombination, and confer a six-fold photocatalytic promotion of Methyl Orange degradation and four-fold enhancement of H2 evolution. The impact of mesopore structure and photophysical properties on photocatalytic activity is also quantified for the first time: calcination increases mesopore size and nanocrystalline order, and induces an anatase to rutile phase transition that is accompanied by a decrease in the optical band gap, increased charge carrier lifetime, and a concomitant significant activity enhancement.
© Elsevier, 2018. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.
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