Enhanced photocatalytic activity of orientationally grown CQD/TiO2 thin film on FTO substrate

We have studied the enhanced light harvesting capacity and reduced recombination rate of TiO2 thin film by composite with Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs). The CQD/TiO2 film was synthesized using facile, and low -temperature hydrothermal synthesis approach using CQD derived from sugarcane juice and ethanol. The pre-pared TiO2 and CQD/TiO2 composite thin films were characterized for structural, functional, optical, morpho-logical and elemental compositions analysis using, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman Spectroscopy, UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The optical band gap of CQD/TiO2 was calculated to be 2.87 eV fall under the visible region favorable for photocatalytic activity under sunlight. The Methylene Blue (MB) dye degradation studies of TiO2 and CQD/TiO2 thin films were carried out under the noon sunlight radi-ation which showed 78% and 82.6% degradation with good reusability. Therefore, this CQD/TiO2 composite thin film can be a promising candidate for industrial dye effluent treatment.