Enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance of polyaniline modified mesoporous single crystal TiO2 microsphere

Abstract Polyaniline (PANI) modified mesoporous single crystal TiO2 microsphere (PANI/MS-TiO2) with excellent photocatalytic activity was successfully prepared by a simple method of solution evaporation and chemisorption. The X-ray diffraction characterization demonstrated that the whole MS-TiO2 kept the crystal type of anatase. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption characterization coupled with scanning electron microscopy indicated that the MS-TiO2 possessed a unique mesoporous structure with high specific surface area, which resulted in the increased load of PANI on the surface of MS-TiO2 and multiple light reflection in the photocatalyst. The UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra confirmed that PANI/MS-TiO2 presented more absorption ability in the visible light range than that of the pristine MS-TiO2. The transient photocurrent responses and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) indicated the high photo responses and fast photogenerated charge separation efficiency of PANI/MS-TiO2. The photocatalytic activity of the PANI/MS-TiO2 was evaluated by the photodegradation of RhB and MB under visible light irradiation. MS-TiO2 photocatalyst with different molar ration of PANI had been prepared, and the results showed that the optimal photocatalyst (PANI/MS-TiO2 (1:40)) exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency which is nearly three times as great as that of pristine MS-TiO2 for the degradation of the RhB and MB under visible light irradiation. The remarkable performance of the PANI/MS-TiO2 under visible light was attributed to its mesoporous single crystal structure with large surface, conductivity, as well as the synergistic effect between PANI and MS-TiO2.