SiO2 surface decorated TiO2 with tunable OVs and enhanced photocatalytic performance

In this study, silicon dioxide (SiO2) surface decorated TiO2 photocatalysts (SiO2/TiO2) were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The experimental results show that decoration of TiO2 by SiO2 can induce abundant OVs and improve the separation rate of photogenerated carriers. The light response range can be expanded from 320–390 nm to 320–420 nm, which improves the effective utilization of light and accelerates the formation of O2−. The existence of SiO2 induces surface effect, and promotes specific surface area of SiO2/TiO2. The photocatalytic activity test confirms that when the mass ratio of SiO2/TiO2 is 6 % (6 % SiO2), the photocatalyst has the strongest degradation ability for rhodamine B (RhB) and ciprofloxacin (CIP). The degradation rate constant of RhB and CIP on 6 % SiO2 is both 2.0 times of that on the reference TiO2. In light of the findings, photocatalytic mechanism of SiO2/TiO2 was reasonably interpreted.