Heterogeneous nanostructure anatase/rutile titania supported platinum nanoparticles for efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dyes

Efficient degradation of organic compounds in water is also challenge for wastewater treatment. Photocatalytic degradation based on multifunctional semiconductor materials has attracted great attention as a prospective method and is highly desirable. Here, we investigated the photocatalytic performance of Pt-supported TiO2 photocatalyst in different crystal structures (rutile, rutile/anatase, anatase) for degradation of methylene blue dye. The morphology and structural properties of TiO2 nanoparticles were tested using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) techniques. Moreover, the photocatalytic activities over noble metal supported anatase/rutile titania catalysts (Pd/TiO2, Pt/TiO2, and Ru/TiO2) were evaluated by degrading the methylene blue dye under solar light irradiation, and Pt/TiO2 contributed the highest decomposition efficiency within 20 min irradiation. A possible reaction mechanism for the catalytic oxidation of methylene blue was proposed.