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Synthesis and Characterization of Bifunctional TiO2/SnO2 Nanocomposites

Huaming Yang ,  Peiwei Hu 

Central South University, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China

Abstract

Uniform TiO2/SnO2 composite nanopowders with different Ti/Sn molar ratio have been successfully prepared via the sol-gel route. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and infrared spectrum (IR). The crystal size of the as-synthesized TiO2/SnO2 nanopowders is about 80 nm according to the XRD calculation. XRD analysis shows that the diffraction peaks associated with SnO2 can’t be found in XRD patterns when the molar ratio of TiO2/SnO2 is less than 10/1. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MeO) in TiO2/SnO2 suspension was investigated. The results indicate that the TiO2/SnO2 nanopowders show higher photocatalytic activity than pure TiO2 when the molar ratio of TiO2/SnO2 is 10/1, but it will remarkably decrease with TiO2/SnO2 molar ratio of 1/1. The photocatalytic mechanism of TiO2/SnO2 nanopowders was discussed. In addition, the electric property of TiO2/SnO2 nanopowders suggests an inhibition electric effect at higher TiO2 content. TiO2/SnO2 nanopowders with Ti/Sn molar ratio of 1/10 shows a resistivity of 1.4×103 Ω·cm. The TiO2/SnO2 nanopowders indicate a potential application in photocatalytic and electronic materials based on its bifunctional characteristics.

 

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Presentation: Oral at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2009, Symposium I, by Huaming Yang
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2009

Submitted: 2009-05-30 10:36
Revised:   2009-06-07 00:48