Partially conjugated polyvinyl chloride-modified TiO2 nanoparticles for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic reduction of aqueous Cr(VI)

• Published in: Materials letters 2016-01, Vol.163, p.262-265
• Main Authors: Wen, Yaoting, Liu, Shuangzhi, Zhang, Qian, Zhang, Yongcai, Yang, Zhanjun, Zhu, Aiping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Functional; Heating; Irradiation; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Photocatalysis; Polyvinyl chlorides; Reduction; Semiconductors; Titanium dioxide; X-rays
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2015.10.109

Partially conjugated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC)-modified TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by heating the composite of polyvinyl chloride and TiO2 nanoparticles in air at 150°C for 1h (the optimal heating duration among the investigated 0.5h, 1h, 2h, 3h and 4h to obtain the most efficient CPVC/TiO2 composite). The characterization results from X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of TiO2 nanoparticles modified with CPVC. The UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicated that the as-synthesized CPVC-modified TiO2 nanoparticles had remarkable visible-light-absorbing ability. The photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that the as-synthesized CPVC-modified TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited high photocatalytic activity in the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) under visible-light (λ>420nm) irradiation, whereas sole CPVC and TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited no photocatalytic activity in the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) under visible-light (λ>420nm) irradiation. •Mixing and heating synthesis of partially conjugated PVC-modified TiO2 nanoparticles.•Strong absorption of visible-light.•High visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity in the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI).