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Photocatalytic activities of microcrystalline TiO sub 2 incorporated in sheet silicates of clay

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100349a031· OSTI ID:7021400

Photochemical and photocatalytic properties of microcrystalline TiO{sub 2} incorporated in the interlayer space of montmorillonite were investigated in reference to those of TiO{sub 2} powder particles which were prepared by agglomeration of a titania sol that was used in the preparation of the titania-pillared clay. The pillared TiO{sub 2} microcrystallites having ca. 15-{angstrom} pillar height showed a ca. 0.58-eV blue shift in its absorption and fluorescence spectra compared with those of the TiO{sub 2} particles, exhibiting the quantum size effect. The excited electronic states of the pillared TiO{sub 2} were determined to be 0.36 V more negative than that of the TiO{sub 2} powder particles. Photocatalytic activities of the pillared TiO{sub 2} were greater than those of the TiO{sub 2} powder particles for decomposition of 2-propanol to give acetone and hydrogen and of n-carboxylic acids with up to eight carbons (from acetic acid to caprylic acid) to give the corresponding alkanes and carbon dioxide, though the pillared TiO{sub 2} exhibited lower activities for decomposition of capric acid, having 10 carbons in a molecule.

OSTI ID:
7021400
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (USA) Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 93:12; ISSN 0022-3654; ISSN JPCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English