Synthesis of Polystyrene@TiO2 Core-Shell Particles and Their Photocatalytic Activity for the Decomposition of Methylene Blue

In this study, we investigated the preparation conditions of polystyrene (PS)@TiO2 core-shell particles and their photocatalytic activity during the decomposition of methylene blue (MB). TiO2 shells were formed on the surfaces of PS particles using the sol-gel method. Homogeneous PS@TiO2 core-shell particles were obtained using an aqueous NH3 solution as the promoter of the sol-gel reaction and stirred at room temperature. This investigation revealed that the temperature and amount of the sol-gel reaction promoter influenced the morphology of the PS@TiO2 core-shell particles. The TiO2 shell thickness of the PS@TiO2 core-shell particles was approximately 5 nm, as observed using transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, Ti elements were detected on the surfaces of the PS@TiO2 core-shell particles using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The PS@TiO2 core-shell particles were used in MB decomposition to evaluate their photocatalytic activities. For comparison, we utilized commercial P25 and TiO2 particles prepared using the sol-gel method. The results showed that the PS@TiO2 core-shell particles exhibited higher activity than that of the compared samples.