Synergetic effect between photocatalysis on TiO2 and solar light-driven thermocatalysis on MnOx for benzene purification on MnOx/TiO2 nanocomposites

MnOx/TiO2 nanocomposites are prepared by the hydrothermal redox reaction of Mn(NO3)(2) and KMnO4 with KMnO4/Mn(NO3)(2) molar ratio of 2 : 1 in the presence of TiO2(P25). The MnOx/TiO2 nanocomposites are characterized by XRD, TEM, EDX, XPS, and BET. Manganese oxide supported on TiO2 nanoparticles is amorphous. The MnOx/TiO2 nanocomposites can efficiently transform absorbed solar energy into thermal energy, resulting in a considerable increase of temperature. The MnOx/TiO2 nanocomposites exhibit excellent catalytic activity and durability for the gas-phase oxidation of carcinogenic and recalcitrant benzene under the irradiation of full solar spectrum light and visible-infrared light. For the first time, we find a synergetic effect between photocatalysis on TiO2 and solar light-driven thermocatalysis on supported manganese oxide, which significantly improves the catalytic activity of the MnOx/TiO2 nanocomposites.