Photoactivity under visible light of metal loaded TiO2 catalysts prepared by low frequency ultrasound treatment

Abstract Visible-light responsive bare and metal loaded (Pt, Ag, Rh, Pd) TiO 2 photocatalysts were prepared by using a simple ultrasound treatment. This method induced bulk oxygen deficiency resulting in a narrowing bandgap (from 3.18 to 3.04 eV) and in visible light absorption. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET specific surface area (SSA) and pore size distribution (PSD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated by using the 4-nitrophenol oxidation reaction and the photocatalytic oxidation of glucose w…