PHOTODEGRADATION OF RhB UNDER VISIBLE LIGHT BY PT/TIO2 NANOPARTICLES PREPARED THROUGH PHOTOREDUCTIVE DEPOSITION PROCESS

Abstract

Pt/TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by a simple two-step aqueous solution method, which consists of a low temperature hydrothermal step and a photoreduction deposition step. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, XPS, UV-vis, and BET techniques. The as-prepared samples exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. With increasing Pt content from 0.25 to 1 wt.%, the band gap energies shift from 2.32 to 1.64 eV. The 0.75 wt.% Pt/TiO2 sample showed the best photocatalytic activity, which could be ascribed to the formation of a Schottky barrier and the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of Pt nanoparticles. And the as-prepared samples also displayed excellent stability and reusability in multiple experimental cycles.