Photoelectrocatalytic properties and reactivity of Ti/Au-TiO2 mesh electrodes

Abstract

A kind of photoelectrode was innovated by anodising titanium mesh in H 2SO 4 solution and photo reduced in HAuCl 4 solution and named Ti/Au TiO 2 mesh electrode. The structural and surface morphology of the Ti/Au TiO 2 mesh was examined by X ray diffraction, laser Raman spectra, scanning electronic microscopy(SEM) and X ray photoelectron spectroscopy respectively. The results indicate that its crystal structure, morphology and the size of pore are affected greatly by gold deposition. XPS measurement shows that the valence band of Ti/TiO 2 has two peaks: a wide one at 4.97 eV and a narrow one at 6.61 eV, which correspond mainly to π(nonbonding) and σ (bonding) O 2p orbitals. The emission intensity of O 2p orbitals becomes stronger and the width of the valence band increases with the increase of Au content. And the emission of nonbonding shifts toward lower binding energy and that of bonding O 2p orbitals shifts toward higher binding energy. The photoelectrocatalytic(PEC) oxidation of humic acid(HA) was investigated in terms of TOC. The PEC oxidation efficiency of Ti/Au TiO 2 mesh with optimal content of gold is higher than that of Ti/TiO 2 mesh. It is suggested that the recombination of electrons and holes is hindered owing to gold deposition. The investigation shows that PEC oxidation is a convenient way to mineralize organic matter for water treatment