Copper-/Zinc-Doped TiO2 Nanopowders Synthesized by Microwave-Assisted Sol–Gel Method

Abstract

Using the microwave-assisted sol–gel method, Zn- and Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with an anatase crystalline structure were prepared. Titanium (IV) butoxide was used as a TiO2 precursor, with parental alcohol as a solvent and ammonia water as a catalyst. Based on the TG/DTA results, the powders were thermally treated at 500 °C. XRD and XRF revealed the presence of a single-phase anatase and dopants in the thermally treated nanoparticles. The surface of the nanoparticles and the oxidation states of the elements were studied using XPS, which confirmed the presence of Ti, O, Zn, and Cu. The photocatalytic activity of the doped TiO2 nanopowders was tested for the degradation of methyl-orange (MO) dye. The results indicate that Cu doping increases the photoactivity of TiO2 in the visible-light range by narrowing the band-gap energy.

Enhanced photoluminescence and structural properties of Zn-doped anatase TiO2 nanoparticles

“…The increase in a and c can be attributed to a variety of explanations, including an interstitial Ti by Zn replacement or a difference in the oxidation states of Ti 4+ and Zn 2+ , which resulted in the development of oxygen vacancies. The substitution with the Zn 2+ ion, which has a larger ionic size (0.74 Å) than Ti 4+ (0.61 Å), causes the lattice to expand [45].…”

Effects of Aluminosilicate Gel Treatment and TiO2 Loading on Photocatalytic Properties of Au–TiO2/Zeolite Y

“…However, TiO 2 applications are limited because of its large energy band gap and the tendency of particles to agglomerate in aqueous media with a reduction in the exposed surface area. The narrowing of the energy band gap was achieved by TiO 2 doping with various metals or nonmetal species [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. A method to diminish agglomerations is the immobilization of TiO 2 nanoparticles on a support framework, such as zeolites [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”