Investigation of Photocatalytic Activity of C60/TiO2 Nanocomposites Produced by Evaporation Drying Method

Within the last century millions of various dyes have been generated in an attempt to prepare new efficient photocatalysts for their degradation. As fullerenes are commonly known to be effective electron-donor scavengers and are very promising for synergistic reasons, fullerene-titanium dioxide (C60/TiO2) nanocomposites of different mass ratios (1:1, 1:10, 1:20, and 1:100) were prepared. Their photocatalytic properties were examined by investigating methylene blue (MB) degradation. As photodegradation of dye analysis indicated, the C60/TiO2 (1:20) composites were found to demonstrate the highest enhancement of photocatalytic activity. A series of techniques, including SEM and TEM microscopies, Raman and UV-VIS diffuse-reflectance spectroscopies, along with DSC and TGA analysis, was used to characterize the prepared material. It is expected that obtained composites will be able to create pro-ecological and cheaper methods of water disinfection, decontamination of soil, etc.