Hydrothermal Synthesis and Characterisation of Cu Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotubes for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange

Abstract

Copper doped titanium dioxide (Cu-TiO2) nanotubes were synthesised by hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen gas adsorption. The photocatalytic activity of the copper doped titanium dioxide nanotubes was investigated by photodegradation of methyl orange under UV light. The structural and morphological studies showed that, the copper was incorporated into interstitial positions of the TiO2 lattice to form a new phase of TiO2 (hexagonal). The copper doped TiO2 nanotubes possessed high surface area and pore volume, results high photocatalytic activity for degradation of methyl orange (MO).