A new active sulfur-sensitive bismuth oxide on titania for photocatalyst

Bismuth oxide on titania catalyst was prepared and characterized, and its photocatalytic activitiy was tested. Also investigated was the possibility of a sulfur-sensitive photocatalytic property of bismuth oxide on titania catalyst. It showed high photocatalytic activity, especially in the presence of polysulfide as one of the sacrificial agents. The activity of the evolution of hydrogen from the solution containing polysulfide showed a maximum at 5 wt% of loading of bismuth oxide on titania. The main cause of its activity, which could be explained by the amounts of sulfur and of hydroxyl ion adsorbed on bismuth oxide, was inferred from the characterization of the surface state of bismuth oxide on titania, considering the extent of exposure of bismuth on the catalyst surface which could provide adsorption sites of sulfur in solution if treated by reduction and/or oxidation.