Abstract

A series of high surface area (~700 m²/g) nanostructured coupled semiconductor photocatalysts (NCSP) based on transition metals (M = Cr, V) doped titania-silica aerogel of various molar ratios of Ti:Si (1:25, 1:33 and 1:50) were synthesized via direct synthesis and wet impregnation methods. All samples reveal well-dispersed TiO₂ with three different types of Ti coordination namely isolated Ti, non-isolated Ti and octahedrally coordinated Ti species. Cr and V (5 wt%)-titania silica aerogel under visible light irradiation reduced the bandgap energy of T25 to 2.9 eV. The photocatalytic activity of NCSP is 3 fold more active than photocatalyst supported on amorphous silica. Cr (5 wt%)-titania silica aerogel photocatalyst gives the highest conversion of styrene under both UV and visible light irradiation (55% and 47% respectively).

Recommended Citation

Hamdan, Halimaton; Mohd Muhid, Mohd Nazlan; Lee, Siew Ling; and Tan, Yin Yin (2009) "Visible Light Enabled V and Cr Doped Titania-Silica Aerogel Photocatalyst," International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering: Vol. 7: A54.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol7/A54