Underpotential Photocatalytic Deposition: A New Preparative Route to Composite Semiconductors

Abstract

It is shown that titania-based heterogeneous photocatalysis can be combined with underpotential deposition for the preparation of composite or coupled semiconductors. Thus, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of titania particles in an aqueous solution of Se(IV) is shown to result in the formation of Se/TiO2 composites. Subsequent UV irradiation of these composites in aqueous solutions containing M2+ ions (M = Cd, Pb) results in the underpotential deposition of the latter on the Se/TiO2 surface to afford MSe/TiO2 composites.