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arXiv · 2309.01326

Improved Photocatalytic Performance via Air-Plasma Modification of Titanium Dioxide: Insights from Experimental and Simulation Investigation

C. Ugwumadu·I. Olaniyan·H. K. Jeong·D. A. Drabold
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Abstract

Commercial titanium dioxide is successfully plasma-treated under ambient conditions for different time periods, leading to reduced crystallite size and the creation of oxygen vacancies. Density functional theory-based calculations reveal the emergence of additional localized states close to the conduction band, primarily associated with under-coordinated titanium atoms in non-stoichiometric titanium-oxide systems. The plasma-treated samples exhibit improved photocatalytic performance in the degradation of methylene blue compared to untreated samples. Moreover, the 4-hour plasma-treated photocatalyst demonstrates commendable stability and reusability. This work highlights the potential of cost-effective plasma treatment as a simple modification technique to significantly enhance the photocatalytic capabilities of titanium dioxide.

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C. Ugwumadu, I. Olaniyan, H. K. Jeong, D. A. Drabold. 2023-09-04. Improved Photocatalytic Performance via Air-Plasma Modification of Titanium Dioxide: Insights from Experimental and Simulation Investigation. https://doi.org/10.1002/mawe.202300233

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