Design of TiO2-SiC photocatalyst using TiC-SiC nano-particles for degradation of 2-propanol diluted in water

TiO2 photocatalyst deposited on SiC (TiO2-SiC) was prepared by a calcination of nano-particles of TiC-SiC precursor obtained by a carbothermic reduction of SiO2-TiO2. The formation of the mixture of well-crystallized anatase and rutile phases of TiO2 was observed on the calcined TiO2-SiC photocatalyst, while amorphous TiO2 species was main component on the TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst prepared by a conventional sol–gel method. From the measurement on the water adsorption ability of photocatalysts, the TiO2-SiC photocatalyst exhibited the hydrophobic surface property in comparison with TiO2-SiO2 and commercial TiO2 powder (P-25) photocatalysts. Under UV-light irradiation, the TiO2-SiC photocatalyst decomposed 2-propanol diluted in water into acetone, CO2, and H2O, and finally acetone was also decomposed into CO2 and H2O. The TiO2-SiC photocatalyst exhibited the higher photocatalytic reactivity than TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst prepared by the sol–gel method. Well-crystallized TiO2 phase deposited on SiC and the hydrophobic surface of SiC support are important factors for the enhancement of photocatalytic reactivity for degradation of organic compounds in the liquid phase reaction.