Titanium(IV) oxide photocatalysts with palladium

Samples of palladium decomposed onto TiO[sub 2] particles were prepared by two methods: the dispersion of a PdCl[sub 2] solution followed by thermal decomposition, and the photodecomposition of PdCl[sub 2]. The addition of palladium to all samples increased their photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of 1,4-dichlorobenzene. This increase was optimized and compared for these two preparative methods. Palladium was also decomposed onto TiO[sub 2] thin films by the photodecomposition of PdCl[sub 2]. The addition of palladium to the films increased their photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of salicylic acid. 35 refs., 4 figs., 4 tabs.