The enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance of nanocrystalline TiO 2 decorated by quinazolinone-photosensitizer toward photocatalytic treatment of simulated wastewater

Semiconductor-assisted photocatalysis is an efficient, green, low-cost technology employed for wastewater treatment. TiO 2 -based photocatalysts are the common photocatalysts; however, their large bandgap energy excludes their photocatalytic activities under UV irradiation. Hence, this work investigates the synthesis of quinazolinone photosensitizer to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 in the visible region and efficiently maximize the utilization of solar irradiation. Quinazolinone photosensitizer is a heterocyclic compound exhibits a wide spectrum in the visible region. The prepared samples are characterized by XRD, FE -SEM, FTIR, DRS, and PL. The photocatalytic activity of the Quinazolinone photosensitized-TiO 2 catalyst is evaluated toward the degradation of rhodamine B (RB) as a model of organic pollutants in wastewater under UV-A and visible light irradiations. Quinazolinone photosensitized-TiO 2 catalyst exhibited a wider absorption spectrum range and lower bandgap of 2.65 eV extending its activity to the visible region compared to bare TiO 2 (3.00 eV). Control tests and factors affecting the photocatalytic degradation rate of RB dye such as pH of the medium, dye concentration and catalyst dose are investigated. Degradation of RB follows 1st-order kinetics. The mechanism of degradation is described based on trapping experiments.