Synthesis, Structure, and Photocatalytic Activity of TiO₂-Montmorillonite Composites

In the present study, TiO2-montmorillonite (MMT) composites were synthesized hydrothermally under variable conditions, including the TiO2/MMT mass ratio, reaction pH, reaction temperature, and dwelling time. These samples were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy% (UV-Vis DRS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), transient photocurrent responses, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated as the ability to promote the visible-light-driven degradation of 30 mg/L of aqueous methylene blue, which was maximized for the composite with a TiO2 mass ratio of 30 wt% prepared at a pH of 6, a reaction temperature of 160 °C, and a dwelling time of 24 h (denoted as 30%-TM), which achieved a methylene blue removal efficiency of 95.6%, which was 4.9 times higher than that of pure TiO2. The unit cell volume and crystallite size of 30%-TM were 92.43 Å3 and 9.28 nm, respectively, with a relatively uniform distribution of TiO2 particles on the MMT’s surface. In addition, 30%-TM had a large specific surface area, a strong light absorption capacity, and a high Ti3+ content among the studied catalysts. Thus, the present study provides a basis for the synthesis of composites with controlled structures