Enhancement in Photocatalytic Activity of Nano-TiO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalyst by Carbon Doping

Abstract

The carbon doped TiO2 nanoparticles with different amount of carbon content were prepared using starch as the carbon source. The physical properties of the as-prepared catalyst were determined using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results showed that carbon was successfully doped into TiO2 and the optical response of TiO2 was shifted from UV to the visible light region. The photocatalytic activity of these catalysts was evaluated by the degradation of phenol under UV and visible light irradiation. C-doped TiO2 nanocomposites showed better photocatalytic activity than the undoped TiO2 nanoparticles. The degradation rate of phenol on C-doped TiO2 was higher than those of pure TiO2 under visible light. As the results, C-doped TiO2 possessed better absorption ability of visible light. The kinetic studies revealed that the degradation of phenol follows pseudo first order reaction relationship.