Photocatalytic activity of platinum loaded fibrous titania prepared by solvothermal process

Fibrous titania (TiO2/Pt) loaded with 1 wt.% Pt was prepared by the solvothermal reactions of H2−2x[Pt(NH3)4]xTi4O9·0.25H2O and H2Ti4O9·0.25H2O/Pt precursors. The powders prepared by the solvothermal treatment of both precursors in methanol at 325 °C possessed higher photocatalytic activity than those prepared by calcination and hydrothermal treatment. The powders prepared by the solvothermal reaction in methanol from H2−2x[Pt(NH3)4]xTi4O9·0.25H2O precursor showed higher photocatalytic activity than that from H2Ti4O9·0.25H2O/Pt. The phase transformation from protonic layered tetratitanate to titania and the reduction of platinum ion to Pt metal could proceed at the same time during the solvothermal reaction in methanol, resulting the uniformly deposition of platinum fine particles on the surface of well-crystallized titania particles.