In this paper, ZnO nanoparticle photocatalysts were modified by depositing Pd on their surfaces with a photoreduction method. We mainly investigated the modification mechanisms as well as the effects on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles of deposited Pd by means of XPS and SPS (Surface Photovoltage Spectroscopy), and the effects of Pd content on SPS responses were also discussed from the point of the electronic energy level. The results showed that the content of crystal lattice oxygen on the surface of ZnO nanoparticle decreased after an appropriate amount of Pd was deposited, while that of adsorbed oxygen increased, indicating that Pd was mainly deposited on the crystal lattice oxygen. At the same time, the intensity of SPS responses of ZnO nanoparticles remarkably decreased. In addition, the activity of ZnO nanoparticles could be greatly improved by depositing an appropriate amount of Pd in the gas phase photocatalytic oxidation of n-C7H16. Thus, it could be concluded that the increase in surface content of adsorbed oxygen could facilitate the photocatalytic reaction, and there were close relationships between the SPS response and photocatalytic activity, i.e. the weaker the SPS response, the higher the photocatalytic activity, of Pd-deposited ZnO nanoparticles.

In this paper, ZnO ultrafine particles (UFPs) were prepared by the thermal decomposition method of the precursor, zinc carbonate hydroxide. The structure and properties of the as-prepared ZnO UFPs were studied using TEM, XRD, BET, SPS, ESR, Raman, XPS and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. It was found that the prepared ZnO UFPs exhibited obvious quantum size effect and surface effect. In addition, there were many active species on the surface of ZnO UFPs such as oxygen deficiencies and hydroxyls, both of which can improve the photocatalytic activities of ZnO UFPs.

We prepared ZnO ultrafine particles (UFPs) by thermal decomposition of the precursor zinc carbonate hydroxide. The surface properties of the as-prepared particles were studied using TEM, XRD, BET, SPS, EPR, IR, and XPS. The surface contains active species such as oxygen deficiencies and hydroxyl that improve photocatalytic activities. The concentrations of active species decreased as the calcination temperature increased along with the surface areas and photovoltage. The ZnO UFP have a significant EPR signal resulting from O2 deficiencies on the surface, which can capture and trap alectrons. Dining photocatalytic degradation of phenol, the photocatalytic activities of the particles decreased as their size increased, which means that these activities depend mainly on surface properties.

TiO2 nanoparticles capped with sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) are synthesized by a sol-hydrothermal process using tetrabutyl titanate and DBS as raw materials. The effects of surface-capping DBS on the surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS), photoluminescence (PL) and photocatalytic performance of TiO2 nanoparticles are principally investigated together with their relationships. The results show that the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles can be well capped by DBS groups while the pH value and added DBS amount are controlled at 5.0 and 2% of TiO2 mass weight, respectively, and the linkage between DBS groups and TiO2 surfaces is mainly by means of quasi-sulphonate bond. The intensities of SPS and PL spectra of TiO2 obviously decrease after DBS-capping, while the activity can greatly increase during the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution, which are mainly attributed to the electron-withdrawing character of the DBS groups. Moreover, the enhancement of photocatalytic activity of DBS-capped TiO2 is also related to the increase in the capability for adsorbing RhB.

In this paper, ABO3-type perovskite LaFeO3 nanosized photocatalysts were synthesized by a sol-gel method, using citric acid (HOOCCH2C(OH)(COOH)CH2COOH) as complexing reagent and La(NO3)3 6H2O and Fe (NO3)3 9H2O as raw materials. The asprepared samples also were characterized by several testing techniques, such as thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), infrared spectrum (IR), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectrum (UV-vis DRS), photoluminescence spectrum (PL), surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) and electrical field induced surface photovoltage spectroscopy (EFISPS). The sample activity of different LaFeO3 nanoparticles for degrading Rhodamine B solution under visible irradiation (λ>400nm) was evaluated. The effects of thermal treatment temperature on photoinduced charge property and hotocatalytic activity were mainly investigated, together with their relationships. The results show that the LaFeO3 sample calcined at 500 8C exhibits higher activity, and the activity decreases with increasing calcination temperature, which is in good agreement with the characterization results. The weaker is the PL and SPS signal, the higher is the photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the activity of all as-prepared LaFeO3 samples is higher than that of international P-25 TiO2 under visible irradiation.