Enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2@mercapto-functionalized silica toward colored organic dyes

• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-015-8823-5
• Publication Date: 2016-10-03T23:30:14Z
• Authors: Hwan Hui Yun; Jung Soo Kim; Euk Hyun Kim; Sang Kyoung Lee; Jin Woo Kim; Hyung Jun Lim; Sang Man Koo
• Keywords: Rhodamine B; Rhodamine 6G; Methyl orange; Visible spectrum; Rhodamine

Core-shell-type TiO2@mercaptopropyl-func- tionalized silica (MPS) particles were prepared for enhanced photocatalytic performance of TiO2. The MPS particles were adopted in the composite-type photocatalyst design so as to enhance the photo-catalytic activity through the chemical interaction between chemically modified substrate particles and organic dye molecules, although they do not have photocatalytic activity. Three organic dyes, rhodamine B, rhodamine 6G, and methyl orange, were selected for testing dye adsorption characteristics and photocatalytic activities of the TiO2@MPS particles, commercial P25, and unsupported TiO2 nanosols. Rhoda- mine B and rhodamine 6G dyes were adsorbed much more