Plasmonic hybrid platinum-titania nanocomposites as highly active photocatalysts: self-cleaning of cotton fiber under solar light

Abstract

In the present paper, a one-step, simple, efficient and low-cost strategy was demonstrated for preparing of highly stable hybrid platinum-titania (Pt@TiO2) photocatalyst by solvothermal wet chemical process. Platinum (Pt) in the metallic form combined with titania (TiO2) in the crystallographic anatase form has been manufactured using Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) as a solvent and surfactant using titanium (IV) butoxide and hydrogen hexachloroplatinate(IV) precursors. Full characterization of the hybrid nanomaterials including their morphology, crystalline structure and optical properties was determinate using different experimental techniques such as XRD, TEM and UV–vis spectroscopy. TEM images showed spherically shaped Pt nanoparticles (NPs) of the diameter 5–10 nm with good particle size distribution. The EDXRF data revealed that Pt NPs are in metallic form. Optical investigation show that Pt@TiO2 NPs exhibits a good optical response under UV–vis light excitation compared to bare-TiO2. Furthermore, photocatalytic investigation of Pt@TiO2 colloids photocatalyst towards the photodegradation of diuron, as a model organic pesticide was reported. The hybrid Pt@TiO2 photocatalyst prove high-performance on the photodecomposition of the pesticide under solar light within only 60 min. In the other hand, the plasmonic hybrid Pt@TiO2 was incorporated into the cotton fabric to attain a modified fiber with high self-cleaning activity. Keywords: Solvothermal method, Nanocomposites, Semiconductors, Heterogenous catalysis, Cotton fiber, Self-cleaning