Persulfate ions activated TiO2/Carbon dots nanocomposite as a highly active photocatalyst for the degradation of Congo red under visible-light illumination

In this study, we synthesized TiO2/Carbon dots nanocomposite and its photocatalytic performance was exceptionally improved under visible light in removal of Congo red using persulfate anions. The TiO2/C-Dots (0.50 mL) photocatalyst had the greatest photocatalytic ability. In addition, the removal rate constant of Congo red by this photocatalyst in the existence of 1.48 mM of persulfate ions was 158 × 10-4 min−1, which is almost 5.60, 3.91, and 1.46-folds premier than those of the pure TiO2, TiO2/persulfate, and TiO2/C-Dots (0.50 mL) samples, respectively.