Modified, Amorphous Titania—A Hybrid Semiconductor for Detoxification and Current Generation by Visible Light

Amorphous, microporous TiO2 hybrid semiconductors modified with transition metals induce generation of a photocurrent and photocatalytic degradation of the water contaminant 4-chlorophenol through photoinduced charge separation (the postulated mechanism is shown in the picture, Ar=4-ClC6H4). In contrast to the previously known crystalline titania photocatalysts, which are active only when excited with UV light, the amorphous semiconductors modified with platinum, rhodium, and gold chloride enable both processes also with visible light.