One-pot synthesis of bifunctionalized TiO2 mesoporous photocatalyst with visible light response

A series of Fe-doped SH/TiO2 mesoporous photocatalysts have been firstly prepared by one-pot method using P123 as structure-directing agent. This bifunctionalized mesoporous TiO2 possesses perfect anatase crystal structure and high surface area. The surface area of Fe-doped SH/TiO2 mesoporous material is 4 times higher than that of P25. Based on the EPR results, it was found that trivalent Fe ions exist at low spin state and substitutes a part of Ti4+ ions into TiO2 lattice. Fe-dropping in TiO2 extends the adsorption band side of the resulting material to about 600 nm. Much high photocatalytic activity in the degradation of phenanthrene was obtained on the bifunctionalized mesoporous TiO2 under visible light irradiation (lambda > 420 nm), which is 6 times higher than that of pristine mesoporous TiO2. The enhancement in the photocatalytic activity of bifunctionalized TiO2 is ascribed to the extended absorption to visible light and strong interaction between SH-groups and PHE molecules.