Comparison of catalytic activity of two platinised TiO2 films towards the oxidation of organic pollutants

Two types of platinised TiO2 films, i.e., Pt–TiO2/ITO and Pt(TiO2)/ITO, were prepared by a procedure of dip-coating and subsequent photo-deposition, and photo-deposition and subsequent dip-coating, respectively. They were well characterized by DRS, XRD spectra, SEM microscopy and photoelectrochemical measurement. Their photocatalytic, dark catalytic and photoelectrocatalytic activities were investigated using formic acid as a model organic pollutants. Compared with pure TiO2/ITO film, the photocatalytic activity of the platinised TiO2 films were apparently improved. However, the improvement was considerably dependent on the preparation method of these films. Pt–TiO2/ITO not only possessed higher photocatalytic activity but also showed a dark catalytic activity towards HCOOH degradation. As a sequence, it was first emphasized that the dark catalytic effect of Pt–TiO2/ITO was partly responsible for degradation of formic acid in the photocatalytic oxidation process. Although the Pt(TiO2)/ITO film does not exhibit the dark catalytic activity, its photocatalytic degradation efficiencies towards HCOOH are higher than that of Pt–TiO2/ITO film. Therefore, in view of enhanced photocatalytic activity, the Pt(TiO2)/ITO was more favored than Pt–TiO2/ITO film.