Thermo-Optical Characterization of Cu- and Zr-Modified TiO2 Photocatalysts by Beam Deflection Spectrometry

Cu/Zr-modified TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared in the form of nanopowders and characterized by photothermal spectrometry, UV–Vis spectrophotometry X-ray diffraction (XRD) to investigate effect Cu/Zr content on their thermo-optical transport properties. Adding Cu (0.05%) caused a change light absorption range limit, which reduced from 3.25 eV for pure 2.85 Cu-modified TiO2. The decrease energy band gap was accompanied 19.5% charge carrier lifetime, is not favorable photocatalysis. lifetime can be minimized additional modification with Zr (1%), showed insignificant effects investigated materials. Furthermore, affected material’s structure increased its specific surface area, improved adsorption degraded compounds as well light. Altogether, these resulted higher photocatalytic degradation rate constants TiO2-based photocatalyst. It also found that and/or increases both thermal diffusivity conductivity due changes material. Beam deflection spectrometry (BDS) has demonstrated high potential materials’ characterization stems sensitivity precision.