Investigation of heteropolyacid - TiO₂ hybrid properties under UV-visible light

Abstract

H₃PW₁₂O₄₀(PW12) is a well-known acid catalyst and photocatalyst. In PW₁₂-TiO₂ system, PW₁₂ acts as scavenger and then reduced PW₁₂ is excited by visible light. In this work, PW₁₂/TiO₂ hybrid thin films and TiO₂ control films were prepared by layer-by-layer (LBL) method. Their photocatalytic activities were estimated by 2-propanol decomposition under UV-visible light. Visible light illumination was required for continuous 2-propanol decomposition. Excitation of reduced PW₁₂ by visible light is necessary for the photocatalytic decomposition process.