Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Nanosheets by Doping with Cu for Chlorinated Solvent Pollutants Degradation

Photocatalytic of Cu-TiO 2 was tested for the degradation of 1.1.1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, and trichloroethene in aqueous phase under UV illumination. Results indicated fast degradation rate of pollutants over TiO 2 doped with 0.5 wt % of Cu compared to undoped TiO 2 and Degussa P25. Fast degradation of nitrobenzene, a probe of hydroxyl radicals ( • OH), over Cu-TiO 2 suggested high concentration of • OH generated in UV/Cu-TiO 2 system. Cu-TiO 2, synthesized by simply hydrothermal solution containing tetrabutyl-titanate, hydrofluoric acid, and cupric nitrate, was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results showed that Cu-TiO 2 was in anatase form and consisted of well-defined sheet-shaped structures having a rectangular outline. XPS analysis showed that surface state of the synthesized products was not modified by Cu doping and Cu was in Cu + oxidation state. Moreover, Cu-TiO 2 product showed good stability through five cycles reuse in trichloroethene photodegradation, suggesting a great potential for its application in chlorinated solvent contaminated groundwater remediation.