Efficient degradation of 4-nitrophenol by using functionalized porphyrin-TiO2 photocatalysts under visible irradiation (original) (raw)

2007, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

The novel porphyrins 5,10,15,20-tetra-[4-(3-phenoxy)-propoxy]phenyl porphyrin, H 2 Pp(a) and 5,10,15,20-tetra-[2-(3-phenoxy)-propoxy]phenyl porphyrin, H 2 Pp(b) and their corresponding copper(II) complexes CuPp(a), CuPp(b) were synthesized and characterized by using various spectroscopic techniques. The photocatalytic activity of polycrystalline TiO 2 samples impregnated with H 2 Pp(a), H 2 Pp(b), CuPp(a) and CuPp(b) as sensitizers have been investigated by carrying out the photo-degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as a probe reaction in aqueous suspension and under visible light. The maximum photocatalytic activity was obtained using TiO 2 loaded with a monolayer of the copper porphyrin CuPp(b) in the amount of 18 mmol per gram of TiO 2 .