Photocatalytic efficiency of sol–gel synthesized Mn‐doped TiO2 nanoparticles for degradation of brilliant green dye and mixture of dyes

Abstract

AbstractThe Mn‐doped TiO2 nanoparticle photocatalysts have been prepared by a simple sol–gel method. 1, 3, and 5 mol% Mn‐doped TiO2 nanoparticles have been prepared by using a stoichiometric amount of manganese acetate and titanium isopropoxide as precursors of Mn and Ti respectively. The physico‐chemical characterization of the prepared samples has been studied by x‐ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive x‐ray analysis, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). XRD study reveals the formation of pure anatase phase of TiO2 and decrease in crystalline size of TiO2 on increasing the Mn doping content. TGA reveals minimum weight loss in the high‐temperature region of 500–1,000°C, showing the thermal stability of the catalyst. FTIR study shows highly bonding in metal atoms. These samples have been tested for photocatalytic degradation of brilliant green dye. 5 mol% Mn‐doped TiO2 is having nearly four times more photocatalytic activity than pure TiO2. In addition, Mn‐doped TiO2 has shown excellent photodegradation of a mixture of three dyes namely, rhodamine B, brilliant green, and methylene blue.