In
this study, ZnTi-mixed metal oxides (ZTM), such as ZnTiO3, were synthesized from ZnTi layered double hydroxides by varying
the molar ratio of Zn/Ti, calcination temperatures, and synthesis
methods (hydrothermal or reflux). The surface electronic characteristics
of ZTM were investigated by the energy-resolved distribution of electron
traps (ERDTs) using reversed double-beam photoacoustic spectroscopy.
The ZTM samples obtained by conducting hydrothermal synthesis at 500
°C showed similar ERDT patterns independent of the molar ratio
of Zn/Ti, although ZnTiO3 phase was not observed in the
X-ray diffraction pattern, when the Zn/Ti ratio was high. When the
ERDT patterns demonstrated a high electron accumulation level near
the conduction band bottom in hydrothermal products at 500 °C,
a higher photocatalytic phenol degradation efficiency was observed
due to the formation of ZnTiO3 phase. This suggested that
the product with the high Zn/Ti molar ratio (Zn/Ti = 6) constituted
amorphous ZnTiO3.The enhanced photocatalytic performance
of ZTM could be attributed to the heterojunction of electrons among
ZnO, TiO2, and ZnTiO3, which enabled electron
transfer in the composites, prevented charge recombination, and promoted
a wider visible light adsorption by ZnTiO3 phase irrespective
of its crystallinity.