Enhancement photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B on nanoPt intercalated Zn–Ti layered double hydroxides

• Published in: Applied surface science 2014-02, Vol.293, p.345-351
• Main Authors: Chen, Guixiang, Qian, Shengming, Tu, Xinman, Wei, Xiaoyong, Zou, Jianping, Leng, Lehui, Luo, Shenglian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Charge separation; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Intercalation; Layered double hydroxides; Photocatalysis; Physics
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.12.165

•NanoPt intercalated Zn–Ti layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been synthesized by ionic exchange and photochemical reduction method from Zn–Ti LDHs in H2PtCl6 solution.•This composite had a higher photocatalytic activity under simulated sunlight irradiation.•The mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to higher surface area, extended photoresponding range, the negative shift in the flat-band potentials of Pt/Zn–Ti-LDHs and the high migration efficiency of photoinduced electrons. NanoPt intercalated Zn–Ti layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been synthesized by ionic exchange and photochemical reduction method from Zn–Ti LDHs in H2PtCl6 solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption at 77K, UV–vis analysis and the electrochemical impedance were adopted to investigate the structure, surface, micromorphology, photoresponsive and electrochemical properties of the as-synthesized samples. The combination of Zn–Ti-LDHs and Pt introduces some properties of Pt into photocatalysis such as excellent conductivity and controllability. Remarkable 17-fold enhancement in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) reaction was observed on as-prepared Pt/Zn–Ti LDHs compared with pure Zn–Ti LDHs under simulated sunlight irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to high specific surface (111.46m2/g), extended photoresponding range, the negative shift in the flat-band potentials and the high migration efficiency of photoinduced electrons, which may suppress the charge recombination effectively.