Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, cilt.473, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
In this research, TiO2 coatings doped with copper were applied to pure titanium using the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) technique. These coatings demonstrated the ability to degrade methylene blue (MB) through photocatalysis. All the copper-doped TiO2 coatings exhibited notably effective MB photodegradation, with the most significant degradation reaching 75 % within 6 h for the coating produced within the solution with a concentration of 4 g/L CuSO₄, due to the presence of copper and photocatalytic rutile, anatase, and TiP₂O₇ phases. These phases were confirmed through GXRD analysis, which facilitates efficient separation of photoinduced charge carriers. Moreover, the notable porosity and uniform distribution of surface pores within this specific coating further boost MB removal. Additionally, the photodegradation mechanism of MB was proposed based on insights obtained from diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and Mott–Schottky analysis. Also, this study investigates the performance of different oxidants (PMS, PDS, and H2O2) when used with the optimal coating as a catalyst under visible light illumination. Results from the photocatalytic assessment reveal that the enhanced coating was effectively activated using peroxymonosulfate (PMS), resulting in significant synergies (1.261). Scavenger experiments resulted in radical and non-radical pathways, emphasizing the dominant photocatalytic process and the unique benefits of this innovative process.