Preparation and photoelectrocatalytic activity of Pt(TiO2)–TiO2 hybrid films

A novel platinised TiO2 film, Pt(TiO2)–TiO2, was prepared by a two-step procedure in which TiO2 as a ‘binding layer’ was first loaded on ITO (indium–tin oxide) conductive glass plates, and then the platinised TiO2 particles in the suspension was dip-coated on the TiO2 film. The resultant hybrid film was characterized by X-ray reflection diffraction, scanning electron microscope, diffuse reflectance spectra and photoelectrochemical measurement. The experimental results showed that the Pt(TiO2)–TiO2/ITO hybrid film not only was much more stable than the single Pt(TiO2)/ITO film but also possessed rather high photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic activities compared with the pure TiO2/ITO film. With respect to formic acid solution, the chemical-oxygen-demand removal efficiency of photoelectrocatalytic oxidation for Pt(TiO2)–TiO2/ITO film is apparently higher than that of photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of TiO2/ITO film, respectively.