Effect of molarity on Structural, Morphological, optical and the photocatalytic property of (Cu1-X-Cox)-TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized via hydrothermal method

Abstract

Copper and cobalt co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) [(Cu1-x-Cox)-TiO2 for x = 0.1 M and 0.9 M] have been synthesized through the hydrothermal method in the current investigation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–vis spectrophotometer have characterized the structural, optical, morphological, and compositional of all prepared samples. Analysis of XRD showed that all prepared nano powders were nanocrystalline and had new [(Cu1-x-Cox)- TiO2 ], rutile and anatase phase depending on the molarity. Further studies have shown that the arrangement of tetragonal and rhombohedral crystals for TiO2 and (Cu1-x-Cox)- TiO2 for x = 0.1 M and 0.9 M respectively, with an average crystallite size of 7.362 nm for TiO2 and 27 nm for (Cu1-x-Cox)- TiO2 for x = 0.1 M and 0.9 M . The SEM analysis shows that the NPs for pure is spherical in form and doped TiO2 have an irregular shape with an average grain size of 168 nm and 223 nm. Analysis of the EDS confirms the chemical composition of the Ti and O elements of the NPs. The difference in the indirect band gap of 3.07 eV, 2.74 eV and 3.58 eV for TiO2 NPs, (Cu0.9-Co0.1)-TiO2 NPs and (Cu0.1-Co0.9)-TiO2 NPs is shown by Tauc’s plots. Here it is noted that the maximal absorption (λm) showed a red shift in the UV–vis absorption spectrum due to doping. Photocatalytic activity was assessed by monitoring Eriochrome Black T (EBT) degradation under UV light. The EBT dye photocatalytic degradation results were 57.75%, 73.7% and 73 %for TiO2 NPs, (Cu0.9-Co0.1)-TiO2 NPs and (Cu0.1-Co0.9)-TiO2 NPs for 110 min, respectively, under UV irradiation. These findings indicate that doping with copper and cobalt improves TiO2’s photodegradation quality.