Visible-light responsive ZnSe-anchored mesoporous TiOheterostructures for boosted photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI).

The accumulation of Cr(VI) ions in water can cause serious influences on the environment and human health. This work reports a humble synthesis of ZnSe nanoparticles anchored to the sol-gel prepared TiOfor visible-light-driven photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) ions. The 7.9 nm ZnSe nanoparticles were attached to TiOsurfaces at a content of 1.0-4.0 wt% as experiential by TEM investigation. The designed nanocomposite unveiled mesostructured surfaces exhibiting surface areas of 176-210 mg. The impregnation of ZnSe amended the visible-light absorption of TiOdue to the bandgap decrease from 3.14 to 2.90 eV. The photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) applying the optimized portion of 3.0 wt% ZnSe/TiOwas achieved at 177mol min. This photocatalytic activity is higher than the common Degussa P25 and pristine TiOby 20 and 30 times, respectively. The improved performance is signified by the efficient interfacial separation of charge carriers by the introduction of ZnSe. This innovative ZnSe/TiOhas also shown photocatalytic stability for five consecutive runs.