Effects of N and F doping on structure and photocatalytic properties of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

A facile solvothermal method has been developed for preparing anatase TiO2 nanoparticles doped with nitrogen (N) or co-doped with N and fluorine (F). The effects of N and F doping or co-doping on the structural and photocatalytic properties of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were investigated. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles, confirming the successful synthesis of anatase TiO2. The crystal cell parameters and crystal size decreased with the doping of N or codoping of N and F. Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under both UV and visible light irradiation revealed that the photocatalytic activity of anatase TiO2 was greatly improved by N doping or N and F co-doping. The effect of TiO2 bandgap narrowing and the synergistic effect between co-dopants N and F on photocatalytic performance of TiO2 were also discussed. The N–F-co-doped TiO2 is thus a promising material for photocatalytic applications.