Enhanced Visible Light Activity and Stability of TiO2Nanopowder by co-doped with Mo and N

Abstract

A visible light responsive N, Mo co-doped <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> were prepared by sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction, TEM, <TEX>$N_2$</TEX> adsorption, UV-vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the prepared <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> samples. Doping restrained the phase transformation from anatase to rutile and reduced the particle sizes. The band gap was much narrowed after N, Mo co-doping. The photocatalytic activities were tested in the degradation of an aqueous solution of a reactive dyestuff, methylene blue, under visible light. The photocatalytic activities of doped <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> were much higher than that of neat <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>. The photocatalytic stability of N, Mo co-doped <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> was much better than that of N doped <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>.