Biogenic hierarchical TiO₂/SiO₂ derived from rice husk and enhanced photocatalytic properties for dye degradation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rice husk, an agricultural bioresource, is utilized as a non-metallic bio-precursor to synthesize biogenic hierarchical TiO₂/SiO₂ (BH-TiO₂/SiO₂) and the products are applied to dye degradation.

Methodology/principal findings

The as-prepared BH-TiO₂/SiO₂ samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), nitrogen-adsorption measurement, UV-vis spectroscopy and electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The results show that BH-TiO₂/SiO₂ possesses both anatase and rutile phases with amorphous SiO₂ as background, which contains mesopore structure, and nitrogen derived from original rice husk is self-doped into the lattice. Besides, the light-harvesting within the visible-light range of BH-TiO₂/SiO₂ has been enhanced. Moreover, t

SUBMITTER: Yang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3170388 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature