H-2 Plasma Treatment to Prepare Reduced TiO2 Catalyst with High Oxygen Vacancies Content

A visible light responsive TiO2 with high oxygen vacancies content were prepared via H-2 plasma treatment. X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the prepared TiO2 samples. The plasma treatment extended its absorption edges to the visible light region. Large amount of oxygen vacancies were created which proved by XRD and Raman. The photocatalytic activities were tested in the degradation of an aqueous solution of a reactive dyestuff, methylene blue, under visible light. The photocatalytic activities of TiO2 was influenced by the oxygen vacancies content. A possible mechanism for the photocatalysis was proposed.