Simultaneous induction of high level thermal and visible-light catalytic activities to titanium(iv) oxide by surface modification with cobalt(iii) oxide clustersElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details. See DOI: 10.1039/c3cp54304h

• Main Authors: Jin, Qiliang, Yamamoto, Hironori, Yamamoto, Kotaro, Fujishima, Musashi, Tada, Hiroaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
• DOI: 10.1039/c3cp54304h

This study first presents a "TiO 2 -based eco-catalyst" working in the dark and under visible-light irradiation for the degradation of environmental organic pollutants. Molecular scale cobalt( iii ) oxide clusters are formed on the surface of highly active anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles (Co 2 O 3 -TiO 2 ) by the chemisorption-calcination cycle method. Co 2 O 3 -TiO 2 exhibits very high visible-light activities for the degradation of 2-naphthol and formic acid used as model organic pollutants. Unprecedented thermocatalytic activity is concomitantly endowed on TiO 2 by the surface modification. Prolonging reaction time in the Co 2 O 3 -TiO 2 photo- and thermo-catalyzed reactions leads to the decomposition of 2-naphthol and formic acid to CO 2 . The essential action mechanisms of the Co 2 O 3 clusters in the photocatalysis and thermocatalysis of Co 2 O 3 -TiO 2 were discussed on the basis of spectroscopic and electrochemical data. Surface modification of TiO 2 with extremely small cobalt( iii ) oxide clusters concomitantly gives rise to high levels of thermal and visible-light catalytic activities for the degradation of organic pollutants.