Effect of Ti species dosage on the photocatalytic performance of HNbMoO₆

A series of Ti species pillared HNbMoO₆ composites with different Ti/Mo ratios were prepared via an intercalation-pillaring route. The effect of Ti species on the photocatalytic performance of HNbMoO₆ and the reason were investigated by means of physicochemical methods such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). The results showed that the effects of Ti species dosage on the disperse state, the interaction model, spectral response characteristic and photocatalytic performance were significant. When the Ti/Mo ratio was less than 1, Ti species were uniformly dispersed on the interlayer of HNbMoO₆, and presented the obvious interaction with the host laminates. The specific surface area of the as-prepared Ti-HNbMoO₆ (with Ti/Mo ratio 1) was 4 times than that of the host material. The narrower band gap and more excellent photocatalytic performance of T1-HNbMoO₆ were derived from the obvious synergistic effect between the host and the guest. (orig.)