Nanostructured microspheres based on titanium nano-oxide with the function of accumulation of a charge for prolonged catalysis

Nanoheterostructures based on titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, and tungsten oxides assembled in the form of microspheres have been synthesized. Their structural and photoelectronic properties have been studied. It has been shown that the photocatalysis rate increases significantly for microspheres consisting several metal oxides. A relation of the photocatalysis rate to the number of V$^{4+}$ paramagnetic centers and the time of their relaxation after the end of illumination has been revealed. It has been found that the spatial separation of photoexcited charge carriers between different nano-oxides in heterostructures leads to the accumulation of charge in them and to prolonged catalysis. Consequently, they are promising for application as the main material of photocatalytic filters for cleaning the environment.