Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of neodymium, nitrogen and neodymium–nitrogen doped TiO{sub 2}

Journal Article · Sat Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2012.06.009· OSTI ID:22215707

Kralchevska, R.; Milanova, M.; Hristov, D. ^[1]; Pintar, A. ^[2]

---

1. University of Sofia, Faculty of Chemistry, 1, J. Bourchier Blvd., Sofia 1164 (Bulgaria)
2. Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana (Slovenia)

Highlights: ► The influence of Nd/N-doping on the sol–gel prepared TiO{sub 2} characteristics is described. ► The photocatalytic activity of the materials for dye degradation is established. ► The activity depends on the catalysts composition and synthetic conditions. ► The doping has a positive under UV and no or negative effect at solar irradiation. ► Degussa P25 TiO{sub 2} reveals high activity at sunlight illumination. -- Abstract: TiO{sub 2} doped with 0.1–10% Nd{sup 3+} or 1.8% nitrogen or co-doped with both dopants as well as Nd{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} are synthesized by a sol–gel. The phase composition, crystal structure, morphology, optical properties and binding energies of the doped titania were investigated. The photocatalytic activity was tested for malachite green dye degradation and compared with the results obtained by dopant-free TiO{sub 2} synthesized using the same procedure and with the commercial Degussa P25 product. The influence of the dopant type and relative content, temperature of ignition in the course of the synthesis, pH of the reaction medium and the type of the illumination light on the efficiency of the prepared catalysts were determined. A positive effect of Nd- and N-doping on the apparent degradation rate constant under UV irradiation and negative one of Nd-presence at solar illumination is found. Nd–N-codoping has a negative effect on the photocatalytic activity.

• OSTI ID: 22215707
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 47, Issue 9; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BINDING ENERGY
CATALYSTS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DOPED MATERIALS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
IRRADIATION
NEODYMIUM
NEODYMIUM COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
REACTION KINETICS
SYNTHESIS
TITANATES
TITANIUM OXIDES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION