Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2-C Nanocomposites in the Oxidation of Safranin T Under UV and Visible Light.

A comparative analysis was carried out on the photocatalytic properties of nanocomposites derived from anatase and carbon obtained by two different reactions in the decomposition of Safranin T. Compared with samples obtained by mechanochemical modification of titanium dioxide by carbon, the nanocomposites obtained by the sol-gel method in the presence of carbon particles are more effective photocatalysts for this reaction due to narrowing of the band gap and the appearance of additional (defective) absorption in the visible spectral range. The effects of the pH of the solution, the extent of substrate adsorption, and the concentrations of the photocatalyst and substrate on the rate of decomposition of this dye were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]