A novel visible light active photo-catalyst named CHC/C-PVA/TiO_2, the composite of titanium dioxide(TiO_2)with conjugated derivative of polyvinyl alcohol(C-PVA) loaded on a cordierite honeycomb ceramic(CHC)substrate, was fabricated by combining the synthesis of TiO_2 sol, preparation of C-PVA via thermally treating polyvinyl alcohol, and immobilization of TiO_2 sol and C-PVA on CHC. By detecting the change of UV–vis absorption spectra of the model organic pollutant(methyl orange(MO)) in the presence of the composite under visible light irradiation, the photo-catalytic activity was evaluated and the results show that the CHC/C-PVA/TiO_2 composite has an enhanced photo-catalytic activity when compared to the CHC/TiO_2 composite. Besides, the CHC/C-PVA/TiO_2 shows a good photo-catalytic stability after the fourth cycles. The structure analyses by scanning electron microscope(SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS) show the coexistence of C-PVA and TiO_2 on the CHC and the cracks on the surface of CHC/C-PVA/TiO_2. Result of ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy(UV–vis DRS) reveals that the CHC/C-PVA/TiO_2 can absorb both ultraviolet and visible light while result of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) indicates the existence of C, O and Ti elements in the CHC/C-PVA/TiO_2. The typical structures as well as the optical characteristics of the CHC/C-PVA/TiO_2 are responsible for the enhancement in the photo-catalytic activity.
