BARC/PUB/2013/0672

 
 

Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of Ga, N and S codoped TiO2 for degradation of azo dye

 
     
 
Author(s)

Umare, S. S.; Charanpahari, A.; Sasikala, R.
(ChD)

Source

Materials Chemistry & Physics, 2013. Vol. 140: pp. 529-534

ABSTRACT

We report an enhanced, visible light, photocatalytic activity for TiO2 doped with multiple dopants like Ga, N and S. The pristine and doped TiO2 nanoparticles exist as anatase phase of TiO2 having a particle size of 12e15 nm. Improved visible light absorption is seen for N, S and Ga, N, S tri-doped TiO2 and the highest visible light absorption is observed for GaNSeTiO2. XPS analysis shows the presence of bonded S and N (N-Ti-O, S-Ti-O) in the sample. Photocatalytic activity of the samples of TiO2 were evaluated  for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) in visible light and GaNS-TiO2 exhibits the highest activity. The enhanced activity of GaNS-TiO2 is attributed to a combination of factors like creation of defect level within the bandgap of TiO2, enhanced lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers and increased photoresponse. Addition of quenchers like benzoquinone (BQ) and 2-propanol results in the 21% and 17% decrease in photodegradation of MO indicating that the O2-. and OH• are the predominant active species in the visible light, photodegradation of MO, using GaNS-TiO2.

 
 
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