Nano-MnO₂ decoration of TiO₂ microparticles to promote gaseous ethanol visible photoremoval

Abstract

TiO(2)-based photocatalysis under visible light is an attractive way to abate air pollutants. Moreover, developing photocatalytic materials on a large-scale requires safe and low-cost precursors. Both high-performance TiO(2) nanopowders and visible-light active noble metals do not match these requirements. Here, we report the design of novel Mn-decorated micrometric TiO(2) particles. Pigmentary TiO(2) replaced unsafe nano-TiO(2) and firmly supported MnOx particles. Mn replaced noble metals such as Au or Ag, opening the way for the development of lower cost catalysts. Varying Mn loading or pH during the impregnation affected the final activity, thus giving important information to optimize the synthesis. Photocatalytic activity screening occurred on the gas-phase degradation of ethanol as a reference molecule, both under ultraviolet (UV) (6 h) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) (24 h) irradiation. Mn-doped TiO(2) reached a maximum ethanol degradation of 35% under visible light after 24 h for the sample containing 20% of Mn. Also, we found that an acidic pH increased both ethanol degradation and mineralization to CO(2), while an alkaline pH drastically slowed down the reaction. A strict correlation between photocatalytic results and physico-chemical characterizations of the synthesized powders were drawn.

Uncontrolled Keywords

Mn decoration; impregnation pH; micrometric TiO₂; surface hydroxyl groups; visible light photocatalysis