We develop a composite photoanode by sensitizing TiO2 nanorod arrays with PbS quantum dots (QDs) and CdS QDs. Benefitted from additional introduced PbS QDs and CdS QDs onto TiO2, the absorption of the composite photoanodes are broaden from UV to visible region. The experimental results showed that the PbS sandwiched between TiO2 and CdS cannot only broad the absorption properties but also impro...

TiO2 nanoparticle (NP)/ITO nanowire (NW) nanocomposites for use as photoelectrode materials were fabricated to improve the charge collection efficiency in solid state dye sensitized solar cells (ss-DSSCs). The average current density for ss-DSSCs containing TiO2 NP/ITO NW arrays was 7.2 mA cm(-2) that was 98% higher than that for the conventional TiO2 NP ss-DSSCs. The intensity modulated photoc...

The efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) depends critically on the electronic structure of the interfaces in the active region. We employ recently developed dispersion-inclusive density functional theory (DFT) and GW methods to study the electronic structure of TiO2 clusters sensitized with catechol molecules. We show that the energy level alignment at the dye-TiO2 interface is the r...

Development of nanostructured photocatalysts for harnessing solar energy in energy-efficient and environmentally benign way remains an important area of research. Pure and WO3-surface modified thin films of TiO2 were prepared by magnetron sputtering on indium tin oxide glass, and photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activities of these films were studied. TiO2 particles were <50 nm, while de...

Surface engineering of TiO2 nanobelts by the controlled assembly of functional heterostructures represents an effective approach for the synthesis of high-performance photocatalysts. In this study, we prepared a novel Bi2O3/Bi4Ti3O12/TiO2 double-heterostructured nanobelt by depositing bismuth hydroxide onto the TiO2 nanobelt surface. A thermal annealing treatment led to the formation of a Bi4Ti...

With a dramatic rise in complexity, needs of nanotoxicology research go beyond simple forms of nanomaterials. This study compared the phototoxicity of nano-TiO2 and graphene-TiO2 nanocomposite (GNP). GNP was synthesized based on a hydrothermal method, which simultaneously performed the reduction of graphene oxide and nano-TiO2 loading. A series of acute toxicity tests of nano-TiO2, graphene and...

Photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohols in aqueous suspensions of rhodium ion-modified titanium(iv) oxide (Rh(3+)/TiO2) in the presence of O2 under irradiation of visible light was examined. In the photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde was obtained in a high yield (97%) with >99% conversion of benzyl alcohol. Rh(3+)/TiO2 photocatalysts having various physical properties w...

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are in consideration to be used in plant protection products. Before these products can be placed on the market, ecotoxicological tests have to be performed. In this study, the nitrogen fixing bacterium Rhizobium trifolii and red clover were exposed to two TiO2 NPs, i.e., P25, E171 and a non-nanomaterial TiO2. Growth of both organisms individually and t...

Heterostructures play an important role not only in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, but also in the field of catalysis. Herein, we report the synthesis of PdO/TiO2 and Pd/TiO2 heterostructured nanobelts by means of a simple co-precipitation method, followed by a reduction process using surface-modified TiO2 nanobelts as templates. The as-obtained heterostructures were characterized by...

Skeletal gold nanocages (Au NCs) are synthesized and coated with TiO2 layers (TiO2-Au NCs). The TiO2-Au NCs exhibit enhanced photodecomposition activity toward acetaldehyde under visible light (>400 nm) illumination because hot electrons are generated over the Au NCs by local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and efficiently transported across the metal/semiconductor interface via the defect sta...