Light intensity dependence of the action spectra of photocatalytic reactions with anatase titanium(IV) oxide

Light intensity dependence of action spectra of photocatalytic reactions was investigated using anatase single-phase titanium(IV) oxide powders as photocatalysts. The action spectra normalized at 350 nm were not changed in methanol dehydrogenation with the range of intensities of ca. 0.1–10 mW cm−2, while those for acetic acid decomposition were red-shifted with increase in light intensity. The apparent quantum yield of the former was almost independent of the irradiation intensity, but that of the latter was declined with increase in light intensity, the degree being considerably enhanced with the irradiation at shorter wavelength when the light intensity was higher than 2 mW cm−2. These can be explained by the difference in the utilization efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers.