Recent developments in the preparation and of a C/TiO_2 composite photocatalyst

The preparation methods of carbon/TiO_2 composite photocatalysts are reviewed. It is pointed out that composites exhibit a diversity of characteristics: carbon is not only used as a support but a coating, pore-forming agent and assisting additive. Correspondingly, carbon in the composite has the effect of concentrating the targeted pollutant and capturing intermediate products, besides which it can reduce the competitive action of water vapor with other pollutants on TiO_2, which is favorable to photodegradation. In addition, it has an advantage of suppressing the phase transformation from anatase to rutile and of preventing sintering and crystal growth in TiO_2 particles at high temperatures. Therefore, it has a beneficial effect on the practical application of photocatalysis technology for carbon/TiO_2 composite photocatalysts.