Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity ofV2O5Cluster Modified N-DopedTiO2for Degradation of Toluene in Air

V 2 O 5 cluster-modified N-doped TiO 2 (N-TiO 2 /V 2 O 5 ) nanocomposites photocatalyst was prepared by a facile impregnation-calcination method. The effects of V 2 O 5 cluster loading content on visible light photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples were investigated for degradation of toluene in air. The results showed that the visible light activity of N-doped TiO 2 was significantly enhanced by loading V 2 O 5 clusters. The optimal V 2 O 5 loading content was found to be 0.5 wt.%, reaching a removal ratio of 52.4% and a rate constant of 0.027 min −1 , far exceeding that of unmodified N-doped TiO 2 . The enhanced activity is due to the deposition of V 2 O 5 clusters on the surface of N-doped TiO 2 . The conduction band (CB) potential of V 2 O 5 (0.48 eV) is lower than the CB level of N-doped TiO 2 (−0.19 V), which favors the photogenerated electron transfer from CB of N-doped TiO 2 to V 2 O 5 clusters. This function of V 2 O 5 clusters helps promote the transfer and separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. The present work not only displays a feasible route for the utilization of low cost V 2 O 5 clusters as a substitute for noble metals in enhancing the photocatalysis but also demonstrates a facile method for preparation of highly active composite photocatalyst for large-scale applications.