WO3-modified TiO2 nanotubes for photocatalytic elimination of methylethylketone under UVA and solar light irradiation

We report on the synthesis, the characterizations and the photocatalytic activity of WO3/TiO2 nanotubes for methylethylketone (MEK) elimination under both UVA and simulated-solar light irradiations. TiO2 nanotubes (TiNTs) were synthetized using the hydrothermal method in a concentrated 10 M NaOH solution heated at 130 °C during 48 h, post-impregnated with tungstate salt and finally calcined. The photocatalytic efficiency for both UVA and solar light irradiation strongly depends on the WO3 content, ranging from 4 to 51 wt.%. The different photocatalytic activities were analysed, in terms of initial and stabilized activities and deactivation phenomena. Complementary post-tests characterizations (TGA and XPS) aiming at the establishment of correlations between WO3 content, surface composition, surface species and the photocatalytic activity and deactivation are discussed.

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► Modification of TiO2 nanotubes with WO3 particles.
► UV-A and solar light activation.
► Optimization of the photocatalytic activity of WO3-modified TiO2 nanotubes.
► Influence of WO3 concentration on the activity and on the deactivation phenomena.
► Heterojunction formation between WO3 and TiO2 semiconductors.