THE INFLUENCE OF PLATINUM ON THE STRUCTURE AND PHOTOCATALYTIC PERFORMANCE OF HYDROGEN TITANATE NANOTUBES

ABSTRACT Via photoreductive deposition process, platinum-modified TiO 2 photocatalysts (Pt/TiO 2 ) with various Pt contents are prepared by using H 2 PtCl 6 and hydrogen titanate nanotubes as precursors. The structures and photocatalytic performances of Pt/TiO 2 obtained are characterized. The experimental results indicate that platinum has obvious influence on the structure and photocatalytic performances of the hydrogen titanate nanotubes. The tubular structures of some nanotubes are destroyed during the photoreductive deposition process. It is possible that the hydrogen coming from splitting water over formed Pt/TiO 2 results in the breach of nanotubes. The existence of platinum can enhance the photocatalytic performance of titanate nanotubes, and the photocatalytic activity arrives at the highest when the Pt content is 1.5 wt.%. Keywords: hydrogen titanate nanotubes; platinum; photoreductive deposition; tubular structure; photocatalytic performanceAs a common semiconductor and photocatalyst, TiO