Photodegradation of bromophenol blue with fluorinated TiO₂ composite

Fluorinated TiO₂ composites were prepared by the sol-gel method. The photocatalytic activities of the composites were evaluated with bromophenol blue (BPB). Composites which contained carbon nanotubes showed the highest photodegradation (98%) of BPB at 20 min as compared to pure TiO₂. Photodegradation by-products of BPB such as Br^- and [SO₄]^2- ions were monitored with ion chromatography. All catalysts were characterized with microscopic techniques, including transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy which were both equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrophotometer. The polymorph of TiO₂ was verified by the use of Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction.