Biogenic hierarchical TiO₂/SiO₂ derived from rice husk and enhanced photocatalytic properties for dye degradation

Rice husk, an agricultural bioresource, is utilized as a non-metallic bio-precursor to synthesize biogenic hierarchical TiO&sub2;/SiO&sub2; (BH-TiO&sub2;/SiO&sub2;) and the products are applied to dye degradation. Methodology/principal findings: The as-prepared BH-TiO&sub2;/SiO&sub2; samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), nitrogen-adsorption measurement, UV-vis spectroscopy and electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The

This work provides a good way to combine natural hierarchical porous structure with synthetic material chemistry based on available biomass in the vast natural environment for the sustainable development of human society, and extends potentials of biomass in applications such as photocatalysts, sunlight splitting water and so forth.