| Black TiO2 with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance for wastewater pollutants degradation Luminita Andronic1; Cristina Cazan1; 1TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY OF BRASOV, Brasov, Romania; PAPER: 194/AdvancedMaterials/Regular (Oral) SCHEDULED: 12:20/Wed. 30 Nov. 2022/Saitong ABSTRACT: A highly efficient black TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysts for wastewater treatment were prepared. The synthesis of promising black TiO<sub>2</sub> has been focused on optimizing different reductant photocatalytic materials, active under both UV and visible light illumination was synthesized by sol-gel method followed by the chemical reduction of pristine white TiO<sub>2</sub>. Pristine titanium oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized using the sol-gel method from precursors of titanium isopropoxide, ethanol and nitric acid following by annealing at different temperatures between 400 and 800°C, in air and argon atmospheres. At high temperature, larger particles grow at the smaller particles leading to more nucleation of the nano-clusters and more growth centres. Heat treatment in the synthesis process affects anatase-rutile ratio, crystalline nature of the particles, morphology, and porosity. Colour change of pristine TiO<sub>2</sub> powder has been monitored under chemical reduction targeting a higher photocatalytic activity for pesticides, phenolic compounds and drugs degradation under UV and solar irradiation. The narrower bandgap of black TiO<sub>2</sub> extends the photoresponse to the visible light region. The black titanium oxide nanoparticles show excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity for pollutants degradation. |
