Doping of commercial TiO2 nanoparticles (UV100) with urea and investigation of their photocatalytic activity in removing an environmental pollutant (C.I. Acid Red 27) under visible light irradiation
Subject Areas : Effective and expandable solutions to control and eliminate environmental pollution
1 - Department of Chemistry, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: TiO2 (UV100), Urea doping, Photocatalytic activity, C.I. Acid Red 27,
Abstract :
In this study, commercial TiO₂ (UV100) was doped with urea using an impregnation method, and its photocatalytic activity was evaluated under visible light irradiation. The characteristics of the doped nanoparticles were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), BET, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic activity of urea-doped TiO₂ (UV100) with various weight ratios and calcination temperatures was assessed through the photocatalytic degradation of C.I. Acid Red 27, a monoazo textile dye. The results indicate that urea doping enhances the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ (UV100) under visible light, primarily due to a reduction in the nanoparticles’ energy band gap. The highest photocatalytic activity was observed in TiO₂ (UV100) doped with urea at a 1:1 ratio and calcined at 350°C. Under visible light irradiation for 50 min, the removal efficiency of AR27 was 65% with pure TiO₂ (UV100) and 100% with doped TiO₂ (UV100).
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