Enhanced photocatalysis of yittium-doped TiO₂/D-PVA composites: Degradation of methyl orange (MO) and PVC film

A novel triple-component TiO₂/D-PVA/Y³⁺ photocatalyst have been synthesized in one portion of polyvinylalcohol (PVA), Ti(OH)₄ and Y(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O(Y³⁺) by means of hydrothermal method to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ under UV-vis light. The relationship between effect of preparation conditions and visible light (VL) photocatalytic activity was investigated. The as-prepared triple photocatalyst (TiO₂/D-PVA/Y3+) was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results shows that the TiO₂/D-PVA/Y³⁺ possess higher photocatalytic activity than pure TiO₂ and TiO₂/D-PVA for the methyl orange (MO) degradation under UV-vis light irradiation. With the 1:1.008 feed ratio of Y³⁺ to TiO₂, the TiO₂/D-PVA/Y³⁺ exhibited a significant VL activity. The TiO₂/D-PVA/Y³⁺-PVC films degradation under UV-vis light was also studied.