Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants and Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes by Visible Light Active Rh–Sb Codoped TiO₂ Nanorods

In this work, we prepared visible-light active and rhodium and antimony codoped rutile TiO 2 nanorods (Rh–Sb:TiO 2 NR) for the degradation of organic pollutants and inactivation of microbial pathogens. The Rh–Sb:TiO 2 NR sample showed a shift in the absorption band in the visible light region (650 nm). Initially, photocatalytic activity of the Rh–Sb:TiO 2 NR was hindered due to its poor surface properties. To improve the surface quality of the less active Rh–Sb:TiO 2 NR photocatalyst, the effect of the acid treatment and Cu x O impregnation on the Rh–Sb:TiO 2 NR were evaluated (Cu x O/A–Rh-Sb:TiO 2 NR). The photocatalytic activity of the Cu x O/A–Rh-Sb:TiO 2 NR photocatalyst was remarkably higher than that of the as-prepared sample. The improved photocatalytic activity of less active Rh–Sb:TiO 2 NR is due to the synergistic effect of acid treatment and finely dispersed Cu x O nanoparticles which improve the charge transfer near the interface of the A–Rh-Sb:TiO 2 NR photocatalyst toward Cu x O nanoparticles. Deconvolution of Cu results indicated that Cu x O have mixed phase of 2+ and 1+ oxidation state which eases the charge transfer at the conduction band of photocatalyst. The optimization of Cu x O loading was achieved by measuring the photocatalytic degradation efficiencies at controlled Cu concentrations on the A–Rh-Sb:TiO 2 NRs. Furthermore, the optimized Cu x O sample was used for photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) and inactivation of L. monocytogenes pathogen. This work provides an efficient visible light photocatalyst for a broad range of environmental applications, such as pathogenic bacterial inactivation and decomposition of organic pollutants.