skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Photocatalytic activity of Li{sup +}-Rb{sup +}-Y{sup 3+} doped or codoped TiO{sub 2} under sunlight irradiation

Journal Article · · Materials Research Bulletin
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. LES, Faculte des Sciences de SfaX, BP 802-3018 Sfax (Tunisia)
  2. Centro de Quimica-Fisica Molecular (CQFM) and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology - IN, UTL, Lisbon (Portugal)

Doped TiO{sub 2} particles were synthesized by solid grinding and sol-gel methods. The ensuing powders were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ground state diffuse reflectance absorption spectroscopy (GSDR). The doped samples prepared by solid grinding at 400 {sup o}C were in the anatase form, while those synthesised via sol-gel method and calcinated at the same temperature were dominated by the rutile phase. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed a surface segregation of the doping elements namely for Y, Rb and Rb-Y. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared catalysts, under sunlight irradiation, was evaluated using 2-naphthol as a pollutant model. Results showed a great enhancement in the photocatalytic efficiency with incorporation of Y in samples prepared by solid grinding, while in samples prepared via sol-gel process both Rb and Y dopants greatly improve the photocatalytic activity. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood model was used to describe the photocatalytic reactions from which a pseudo-first-order kinetics was established. The repeatability of photocatalytic activity was also tested for several degradation cycles.

OSTI ID:
22207330
Journal Information:
Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 45, Issue 7; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2010 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