Sonochemical Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of N-Doped TiO2Nanocrystals with Mesoporous Structure

Tiekun Jia,Zhenghua Fan,Xiaofeng Wang,Jian Chen,Fancheng Meng,Lijun Cui,Junwei Zhao,Fang Fu

doi:10.1155/2014/516806

Abstract

N-Doped TiO2nanocrystals were synthesized via a simple sonochemical route, using titanium tetrachloride, aqueous ammonia, and urea as starting materials. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) equipped with an energy dispersion X-ray spectrometer (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results of TEM and nitrogen adsorption-desorption showed that the average size and specific surface area of the as-synthesized nanocrystals are 10 nm and 107.2 m2/g, respectively. Raman spectral characterization combined with the results of XRD and EDS revealed that N dopant ions were successfully doped into TiO2. Compared with pure TiO2, the adsorption band edge of N-doped TiO2samples exhibited an obvious red shift to visible region. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light, and the results showed that the N-doped TiO2sample synthesized by an optimal amount of urea exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity due to its special mesoporous structure and the incorporation of nitrogen dopant ions.

Highlights

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has attracted increasing attention for its unique physicochemical properties and wide applications in photocatalysts [1,2,3], lithium batteries [4], gas sensors [5], and solar cells [6, 7]
The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the decolorization of Rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution under visible light irradiation
The N-doped TiO2 samples synthesized with different molar ratios of urea to TiCl4 of 1, 3, and 5 are labeled as NT1, NT2, and NT3, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has attracted increasing attention for its unique physicochemical properties and wide applications in photocatalysts [1,2,3], lithium batteries [4], gas sensors [5], and solar cells [6, 7]. Among these applications, TiO2has been known as the most efficient photocatalysts due to its strong oxidizing power, cost effectiveness, and long-time stability against photocorrosion and chemical photocorrosion. The photocatalytic activities of the as-obtained samples were evaluated by the degradation of RhB under visible-light irradiation

Experimental Details

Results and Discussion

Conclusions