Synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of Zr-doped N-TiO2 nanostructures

Abstract

We report herein, synthesis of Zr doped N-TiO2 prepared by simple microwave assisted method. From XRD study it reveals that Zr+4 ions are substituted in the lattice of N-TiO2 with average crystallite size of 12 nm. The interplanar distance (d) obtained from HRTEM was found to be 0.35 nm which confirms the anatase phase of TiO2. An optimal Zr content shows lowest PL intensity which supports the reduction in recombination rate of charge carrier species. Moreover, to know photocatalytic activity, we have tested N-TiO2 and Zr doped N-TiO2 nanomaterials for degradation of methyl orange (MO) and gemifloxacin mesylate (GFM, antibiotic drug) under UV light. The photodegradation of MO and GFM were found to be 94 and 89 % within 60 and 40 min respectively. An increment of 45 % in the photodegradation of MO by 0.5 mol% Zr doped TiO2 was obtained as compared to N-TiO2. The probable mechanism for Zr doped N-TiO2 is also discussed. Photodegradation of drug was also supported by decrease in antibiotic activity of photodegraded drug sample against E. coli.