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This paper reports a simple, biogenic and green approach to obtain narrow band gap and visible light-active TiO2 nanoparticles.

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Novel approach for band gap engineering of TiO2

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This paper reports a simple, biogenic and green approach to obtain narrow band gap and visible light-active TiO2 nanoparticles. Commercial white TiO2 (w-TiO2) was treated in the cathode chamber of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), which produced modified light gray TiO2 (g-TiO2) nanoparticles. The DRS, PL, XRD, EPR, HR-TEM, and XPS were performed to understand the band gap decline of g-TiO2. The optical study revealed a significant decrease in the band gap of the g-TiO2 (E g  = 2.80 eV) compared to the w-TiO2 (E g  = 3.10 eV). The XPS revealed variations in the surface states, composition, Ti4+ to Ti3+ ratio, and oxygen vacancies in the g-TiO2. The Ti3+ and oxygen vacancy-induced enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of g-TiO2 was confirmed by degrading different model dyes. The enhanced photoelectrochemical response under visible light irradiation further supported the improved performance of the g-TiO2 owing to a decrease in the electron transfer resistance and an increase in charge transfer rate.

Professor Mohammad Mansoob Khan
Universiti Brunei Darussalam

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This page is a summary of: Microbial fuel cell assisted band gap narrowed TiO2 for visible light-induced photocatalytic activities and power generation, Scientific Reports, January 2018, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19617-2.
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