%0 Journal Article %A Dhandole, Love Kumar %A Mahadik, Mahadeo A. %A Kim, Su-Gyeong %A Chung, Hee-Suk %A Seo, Young-Seok %A Cho, Min %A Ryu, Jung Ho %A Jang, Jum Suk %D 2017 %T Boosting Photocatalytic Performance of Inactive Rutile TiO2 Nanorods under Solar Light Irradiation: Synergistic Effect of Acid Treatment and Metal Oxide Co-catalysts %U https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Boosting_Photocatalytic_Performance_of_Inactive_Rutile_TiO_sub_2_sub_Nanorods_under_Solar_Light_Irradiation_Synergistic_Effect_of_Acid_Treatment_and_Metal_Oxide_Co-catalysts/5192149 %R 10.1021/acsami.7b02104.s001 %2 https://acs.figshare.com/ndownloader/files/8855320 %K TO-NR %K 1.0 M acid %K XPS %K transition metal oxide co-catalysts %K HR-TEM %K FT-IR %K salt rutile TiO 2 nanorods %K TiO 2 nanorods %K photocatalytic degradation efficiency %K ATO-NR %K metal oxide %K Boosting Photocatalytic Performance %K Inactive Rutile TiO 2 Nanorods %K dye degradation efficiencies %K rutile TiO 2 nanorods %K MATO-NR %K Solar Light Irradiation %K surface %K charge transfer process %K MTO-NR %K Metal Oxide Co-catalysts %K acid treatment %K Orange-II dye degradation %X In the present work, we accomplish the boosting of photocatalytic performance by the synergistic effect of acid treatment and transition metal oxide co-catalysts on molten salt rutile TiO2 nanorods. FT-IR and XPS (oxygen deconvolution) results confirmed that the amount of hydroxyl groups increased on the surface of rutile TiO2 nanorods (TO-NRs) after acid treatment. HR-TEM analysis revealed fine dispersion of metal oxide on the surface of acid treated TiO2 nanorods (ATO-NRs). The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared (TO-NRs), acid treated (ATO-NRs), metal oxide loaded (MTO-NRs), and both acid treated and metal oxide loaded (MATO-NRs) nanorods were compared based on the rate kinetics and dye degradation efficiencies. Cobalt oxide (1 wt %) loaded and 1.0 M acid treated TiO2 nanorods (Co/ATO-NR) exhibited the higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency for Orange-II dye degradation and inactivation of S. typhimurium pathogen compared to other photocatalysts under solar irradiation. Photoelectrochemical analysis demonstrated that the charge transfer process in Co/ATO-NR is significantly higher than that in the untreated samples. The improved photocatalytic activity of inactive TO-NRs might be due to enhanced charge transfer of finely dispersed metal oxides on the OH-rich surface of acid treated TiO2 nanorods. %I ACS Publications