Fabrication of Activated Charcoal Adsorption Bi2O3/TiO2 Composite Powders and the Study of Their Photocatalytic Activity

A visible light-driven activated charcoal adsorption Bi2O3/TiO2 composite photocatalyst was prepared by an sol-gel method in which activated charcoal acted as a adsorption to capture metal ions by reacting with bismuth and titanium sources via a complex polycondensation pathway. The phase and particle size of the photocatalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that adsorption of Bi2O3 / TiO2 composite powder with activated carbon is not easy to agglomerate and sinter during the preparation and calcination process, and it has the advantages of good dispersibility, less agglomeration and uniform particles. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared catalyst was evaluated by degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. The results showed that the decomposition rate of methylene blue was 93% at 50 min catalyzed by composite powder.