Improved photocatalytic activity of anatase TiO2-pillared HTaWO6 for degradation of methylene blue

Anatase TiO2-pillared HTaWO6 was prepared by assembling tantalotungstate nanosheets with anatase TiO2 nanoparticles via an exfoliation–restacking route. The resultant materials were characterized by XRD, HRTEM, TG/DTA, FT-IR, XPS, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption measurements. It was shown that the host 2D sheet structure was retained after exfoliation, restacking and calcination. The pillared nanohybrid is mesoporous with a gallery height of about 2 nm and a specific surface area of 91 m2/g. There exists an electronic coupling between the host nanosheets and the guest nanoparticles in the pillared system. The results of degradation of methylene blue suggest that hybridizing with TiO2 nanoparticles, HTaWO6 exhibits an enhanced photocatalytical behavior. A photoexcitation model in the semiconductor–semiconductor pillared photocatalyst was proposed based on UV–vis, XPS and photoelectrochemical measurements.

Graphical abstractThe heterojunction structure effectively suppresses the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Mesoporous anatase TiO2-pillared HTaWO6 exhibits an excellent photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Anatase TiO2-pillared HTaWO6 processes a mesoporous texture. ► The heterostructured nanohybrid exhibits an excellent photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue. ► The band edges of hybridizing parents were proposed based on UV–vis, XPS and flatband measurements.