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3749773

Effect of ethanol on photocatalytic activity of nano titania

Date
August 22, 2022

Nano titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a popular photocatalyst due to its stability, non-toxicity, and availability. Methylene blue (MB) is a commercial dye that is extensively employed in the evaluation of the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 based photocatalysts. Although many research groups have explored TiO2 photocatalysis in the aqueous medium, the effect of the solvent has not gained significant attention. In the present study, a series of MB solutions were prepared in ethanol which was subsequently exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the presence of a constant amount of TiO2 nanoparticles. The study was conducted by varying the UV exposure time, solvent, and concentration of the adsorbate. Characterization of the resultant suspensions was achieved by UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results clearly indicate that the solvent effect is crucial for photocatalysis to take place. A reversible, as well as photoinduced adsorption of MB on TiO2, was observed for the first time in ethanol medium. This is completely divergent to the photocatalytic degradation of MB in aqueous TiO2 suspensions which is commonly reported. The experimental outcomes of this study differentiate the roles of nano TiO2 in photocatalytic assessments of dyes carried out in water and ethanol: a photocatalyst and an adsorbent, respectively.

Presenter

Speaker Image for K.R. Jaliya Manuda
K.R. Jaliya Manuda, Graduate Student
Research Assistant, University of Colombo

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