A nanocomposite (NC) of titanium (IV) oxide (TiO₂) and molybdenum (VI) oxide (MoO₃) was synthesized using a hydrothermal route. Detailed analyses using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy were carried out and confirmed the successful formation of pure TiO₂-MoO₃ (Ti-Mo) NC. The Ti-Mo NC possesses sizes in the range of 150–500 nm. XPS, Raman, and DRIFT shift measurements confirmed the formation of mixed oxide linkage in the form of Ti-O-Mo. Sorption of nitrogen isotherms revealed a significant increase in the number and pore widths of mesopores in the NC. Water sorption isotherms revealed enhanced affinity of the nanocomposites for water relative to the pure metal oxides. The BET surface area for Ti-Mo NC from the nitrogen adsorption isotherm was 129.3 m²/g which is much higher than the pure metal oxides (i.e., 37.56 m²/g for TiO₂ and 2.21 m²/g for MoO₃). The Ti-Mo NC provided suitable adsorption sites that captured the studied carbamates from the solution and promoted their photodegradation process. The photocatalytic degradation of MB in the presence of the catalyst was enhanced by 2.9 and 5.5 folds upon irradiation with white LED and 302 nm UV light sources, respectively.

Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are persistent toxic compounds that are ubiquitous in the environment. Nanocomposites of titanium(IV) oxide-vanadium(III) oxide (${\mathrm{Ti}}_3{\mathrm{V}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7$) and titanium(IV) oxide-silicon dioxide (${\mathrm{Ti}}_2{\mathrm{Si}}_7{\mathrm{O}}_{30}$) were prepared and spectroscopically analyzed as potential decontaminants for dioxin-like materials. The analysis confirmed a homogeneous morphology with nanoscale particle size. The Ti-Si sample was found to have a high surface area compared to the Ti-V composite. Vanadium(III) oxide (V₂O₅) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂) were chosen as materials for the formation of heterogeneous compounds with titanium(IV) oxide (TiO₂) because they possess a suitable band alignment with TiO_2, thus forming effective photocatalysts. This study evaluated the photodegradation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-furan (TCDF) in the presence of Ti-Si and Ti-V oxide composites, which was tested using high- (254 nm) and midenergy (302 nm) UV irradiation sources. While Ti-Si showed success in the photodegradation of 2,3,7,8-TCDF dissolved in a (1:1) methanol–tetrahydrofuran (MeOH-THF) solution, the Ti-V composite proved to be a powerful material in adsorbing TCDF with a high capacity immediately upon mixing. Ti-Si oxide was found to decompose TCDF under the two irradiation sources with 98–99% degradation occurring after 70 min. The use of 254 nm as an irradiation source in the presence of Ti-Si was 4.3 times faster than the analogue reaction irradiated without a catalyst. Byproducts of the degradation were evaluated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), resulting in a lower chlorinated congener and less toxicity, as the main degradation product.