Synthesis and electronic behaviors of TiO2/carbon clusters/Cr2O3 composite materials

Nano-structured TiO2/carbon clusters/Cr2O3 composite material has been successfully obtained by the microwave treatment of a TiO(acac)/Cr(acac)3/epoxy resin complex. The compositions of the composite materials were determined using ICP, elemental analysis and surface characterization by SEM-EDX, TEM and XRD. ESR spectral examinations suggest the possibility of an electron transfer in the process of TiO2 → carbon clusters → Cr2O3 with an oxidation site at TiO2 particles and a reduction site at Cr2O3 particles. The preliminary experimental results show that the calcined materials could decompose methylene blue under visible-light irradiation.