Enhanced photocatalytic performance of titania-based binary metal oxides: TiO2/SiO2 and TiO2/ZrO2

Sol-gel prepared mixtures of silica or zirconia with titania are shown to have significantly higher activities than pure titania for the complete photocatalytic oxidation of ethylene. These higher activities are only apparent when the respective catalysts are stabilized by sintering. The differences become even more pronounced when the catalysts are used in a tubular reactor. Optimum mixture concentrations are found to be 12 wt % zirconia and 16 wt % silica in titania. Both catalyst types exhibit activity maxima with respect to sintering temperature. It is hypothesized that the maxima arise from opposing effects of densification and phase transformation versus beneficial sintering. A comparison of our catalyst compositions with literature in this area suggests that the increase in activity due to the addition of silica or zirconia may be a result of higher surface acidity. However, isoelectric point measurements employing the unsintered and sintered catalysts show no conclusive increase in surface acidity. The effects of sintering temperature on the surface area, porosity, and crystal structure of the catalysts are also presented.