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Insight into the Photocatalytical Activity of TiO2 Nanoparticles Through the Electrochemical Characterization of Carbon Paste Electrodes

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Abstract

We propose a methodology to study the behavior of semiconductor nanoparticles—especially TiO2 nanoparticles—in photoactivated processes via electrochemical studies, using solid electrodes instead of thin-film electrodes. This strategy allows the comparison of properties probed from freestanding nanoparticles with the results of electrochemical characterization, without grain growth or texturization effects, frequently observed in thin-film electrodes. In this study, solid electrodes prepared with homogenized carbon paste and TiO2 were characterized. The TiO2/carbon paste electrode showed lower currents than the carbon paste electrode under UVC illumination. The electrode containing 15 % TiO2/carbon paste showed better results for electroanalytical characterization. However, for electrolysis, the carbon paste electrode with 60 % TiO2 was used, as 15 to 45 % (w/w) TiO2 content was deemed insufficient for this purpose. In order to compare the electrochemical characterization with photocatalytical properties, the degradation of rhodamine B (Rhod-B) dye was used. The reaction order for the Rhod-B degradation was between first and second order, which suggests that the products of the reaction may interfere with the decomposition itself. The results will enhance the establishment of a valuable characterization route to support future research regarding the influence of different materials in photodegradation processes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank CNPq (201994/2010-0), FAPESP (2009/10998-3), CAPES, FINEP, and EMBRAPA for the financial support. We also acknowledge ETH Zurich (Switzerland), Dr. Thomas Schmidt of PSI Villigen (Switzerland), and Embrapa Instrumentação (Brazil) for their support in the experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, São Carlos Federal University, Washington Luís, Km 235, 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    Gabriela Byzynski Soares

  2. Embrapa Instrumentation, XV de Novembro Street, 1452, 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    Gabriela Byzynski Soares, Carlos M. P. Vaz & Caue Ribeiro

  3. Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10, HCI E131; CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland

    Ive Hermans

  4. Department of Chemistry; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 101 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Ive Hermans

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  1. Gabriela Byzynski Soares
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  2. Carlos M. P. Vaz
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  3. Caue Ribeiro
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  4. Ive Hermans
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Correspondence to Gabriela Byzynski Soares.

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Soares, G.B., Vaz, C.M.P., Ribeiro, C. et al. Insight into the Photocatalytical Activity of TiO2 Nanoparticles Through the Electrochemical Characterization of Carbon Paste Electrodes. Electrocatalysis 6, 92–101 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12678-014-0223-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12678-014-0223-0

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