Pt-V2O5/NT and Pt-WO3/NT Titanate Nanotubes with Strong Photocatalytic Activity under Visible Light

Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B was carried out by decorated V2O5/NT and WO3/NT titanate nanotubes with Pt (0.3 wt. %) under visible light irradiation. The effect of parameters such as titanic acid phase, surface area and photocatalyst load on the deactivation of the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B were studied. Photoatalysts were characterized by S-BET, XRD, UV-vis, XPS, HR-TEM, and H-2-TPR. We found that Pt-WO3/NT photocatalyst reached 90% of dye degradation in 60 min. WO3/NT reached 60% after 90 min under 450-nm visible light irradiation and pH neutral. The incorporation Pt nanoparticles into WO3/NT and V2O5/NT supports increased remarkably the photocatalytic activity during degradation of Rhodamine B. After reaction, an evolution from VO2 to V2O5 was observed. We also found the transition from W5+ to W6+. The transition from Pt-0 to Pt2+ was also observed. We concluded that the presence of Pt hinders the oxidation of the oxygen species on the surface of the titanate nanotubes.