Effects of Different Delocalized π-Conjugated Systems Towards the TiO(2)-Based Hybrid Photocatalysts

Modulating the structure of a photocatalyst at the molecular level can improve the photocatalytic efficiency and provides a guide for the synthesis of highly qualified photocatalysts. In this study, TiO(2) was modified by various organic compounds to form different TiO(2)-based hybrid photocatalysts. 1,10-Phenanthroline (Phen) is an organic material with delocalized π-conjugated systems. It was used to modify TiO(2) to form the hybrid photocatalyst Phen/TiO(2). Furthermore, 1,10-phenanthrolin-5-amine (Phen-NH(2)) and 1,10-phenanthroline-5-nitro (Phen-NO(2)) were also used to modify TiO(2) to form NH(2)-Phen/TiO(2) and NO(2)-Phen/TiO(2), respectively. The samples of TiO(2), Phen/TiO(2), NO(2)-Phen/TiO(2), and NH(2)-Phen/TiO(2) were carefully characterized, and their photocatalytic performance was compared. The results indicated that the photocatalytic efficiency followed the order of NH(2)-Phen/TiO(2) > NO(2)-Phen/TiO(2) > Phen/TiO(2) > TiO(2). It could be found that modifying TiO(2) with different organic compounds containing delocalized π-conjugated systems could enhance the photocatalytic ability; furthermore, the level of this enhancement could be modulated by different delocalized π-conjugated systems.