Hydrothermal synthesis of C-doped K2Al2Ti6O16 as a visible light–activated photocatalyst in the degradation of organic dyes

Abstract

Hydrothermally synthesized C-doped K2Al2Ti6O16 (C-KATO) is reported as a novel photocatalysts for methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) degradation under visible light irradiation. Glucose is used as a carbon source. The structural, morphological, and optical properties are investigated using powder XRD, FE-SEM/EDS elemental mapping, TEM/HR-TEM, FT-IR, UV-Vis DRS, and XPS techniques. C-KATO sample crystallized in the tetragonal lattice with space group I4/m. The bandgap energy of C-KATO is found to be 2.59 eV whereas the bandgap energy of the parent KATO is 3.58 eV. FE-SEM elemental mapping and XPS results of C-KATO reveal the presence of carbon in the KATO lattice. The photocatalytic activities of the KATO and C-KATO oxides are evaluated for MB and MO degradation under visible light irradiation, and the results have been compared with those attained over P25 Degussa. It shows higher activity in comparison to P25. The mechanistic dye degradation pathway is studied using radical scavengers during photoreaction.