The performance of multicomponent oxide systems based on TiO2, ZrO2 and SiO2 in the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B: Mechanism and kinetic studies

Abstract

Novel binary and ternary oxide photocatalysts based on titania, zirconia and silica were synthesized via a sol-gel method assisted by a calcination process. The effect of the molar ratio of components as well as the temperature of calcination on the physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of the final products was examined. Particle size distribution (NIBS), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, low-temperature N2 sorption, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were employed to investigate the dispersion, morphology, crystalline and textural structure as well as the chemical composition of the photocatalysts. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to confirm the chemical surface concentration and the presence of characteristic surface groups of the synthesized materials. The key stage of the research involved evaluation of the photocatalytic behavior of the synthesized materials in the catalytic decomposition of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye. The photocatalytic studies focused on determination of the effect of the type and crystalline structure of the photocatalyst, the pH of the reaction system, and the irradiation time on the efficiency of degradation of RhB in the presence of the synthesized oxide materials.