Direct synthesis of Cu-TiO2-SBA-16 photocatalysts and its application for the oxidative desulfurization of fuel oil model

https://doi.org/10.62239/jca.2024.055

Abstract

In this study, the Cu-TiO₂-SBA-16 photocatalytic materials were successfully prepared by direct hydrothermal synthesis method. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet–Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods. The analysis illustrated that Cu-TiO₂ nanocrystals were successfully incorporated into the SBA-16 mesopores. The photocatalytic activity of these Cu-TiO₂-SBA-16 mesoporous materials have been tested by the oxidative desulfurization reaction of dibenzothiophene (DBT) using H₂O₂ as an oxidant under UV light irradiation. The results showed that the Cu-TiO₂-SBA-16 mesoporous materials prepared at the Cu/Ti mole ratios of 0.05 showed higher photocatalytic activity than the rest due to the decrease in band gap energy.