Synthesis and electronic behaviors of TiO2/carbon clusters/Cr2O3 composite materials

Abstract Nano-structured TiO2/carbon clusters/Cr2O3 composite material has been successfully obtained by the microwave treatment of a TiO(acac)/Cr(acac)3/epoxy resin complex. The compositions of the composite materials were determined using ICP, elemental analysis and surface characterization by SEM–EDX, TEM and XRD. ESR spectral examinations suggest the possibility of an electron transfer in the process of TiO2 → carbon clusters → Cr2O3 with an oxidation site at TiO2 particles and a reduction site at Cr2O3 particles. The preliminary experimental results show that the calcined materials could decompose methylene blue under visible-light irradiation.