Fabrication and enhanced simulated sunlight photocatalytic activity of metallic platinum and indium oxide codoped titania nanotubes

Abstract

Metallic platinum and indium oxide codoped titania nanotubes were fabricated by a multicomponent assembly combined with a solvothermal treatment. The structure, morphology, and optical properties of the prepared samples were comparatively characterized. The Pt/In₂O₃–TiO₂ nanotubes exhibited an anatase phase with homogeneously dispersed metallic Pt nanoparticles on the surface. Under the simulated sunlight irradiation, the photocatalytic performance of the samples was tested in the degradation of the dyes rhodamine B (RB) and diethyl phthalate (DEP). Compared to In₂O₃–TiO₂ and TiO₂ nanotubes as well as Pt/In₂O₃–TiO₂ nanoparticles, Pt/In₂O₃–TiO₂ nanotubes with 0.8% Pt and 9.4% In₂O₃ doping exhibited higher photocatalytic activity, and nearly total degradation of the dyes RB (20 mg L⁻¹) or DEP (10 mg L⁻¹) was obtained after 50 or 45 min under simulated light irradiation. The reasons for the enhanced photocatalytic activity were revealed.