Preparation and photocatalytic activity of B, Ce Co-doped TiO2 hollow fibers photocatalyst

Abstract

A series of B, Ce co-doped TiO2 (B, Ce-TiO2) photocatalytic materials with a hollow fiber structure were successfully prepared by template method using boric acid, ammonium ceric nitrate and tetrabutyltitanate as precursors and cotton fibers as template, followed by calcination at 500°C in an N2 atmosphere for 2 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements, and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) were employed to characterize the morphology, crystal structure, surface structure, and optical absorption properties of the samples. The photocatalytic performance of the samples was studied by photodegradation phenol in water under UV light irradiation. The results showed that the TiO2 fiber materials have hollow structures, and the fiber structure materials showed better photocatalytic properties for the degradation of phenol than pure TiO2 under UV light. In the experiment condition, the photocatalytic activity of B, Ce co-doped TiO2 fibers was optimal of all the prepared samples. In addition, the possibility of cyclic usage of B, Ce co-doped TiO2 fiber photocatalyst was also confirmed, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 fibers remained above 90% of that of the fresh sample after being used four times. The material was easily removed by centrifugal separation from the medium. It can therefore be potentially applied for the treatment of water contaminated by organic pollutants.