Enhanced Photocatalytic Paracetamol Degradation by NiCu-Modified TiO₂ Nanotubes: Mechanistic Insights and Performance Evaluation.

ABSTRACT: Anodic TiO₂ nanotube arrays decorated with Ni, Cu, and NiCu alloy thin films were investigated for the first time for the photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol in water solution under UV irradiation. Metallic co-catalysts were deposited on TiO₂ nanotubes using magnetron sputtering. The influence of the metal layer composition and thickness on the photocatalytic activity was systematically studied. Photocatalytic experiments showed that only Cu-rich co-catalysts provide enhanced paracetamol degradation rates, whereas Ni-modified photocatalysts exhibit no improvement compared with unmodified TiO₂. The best-performing material was obtained by sputtering a 20 nm thick film of 1:1 atomic ratio NiCu alloy: this material exhibits a reaction rate more than doub

SUBMITTER: Pinna M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11477857 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature