Synthesis of C-N-Y tri-doped TiO2 photo-catalyst for MO degradation and characterization

In this researchC-N-Y tri-doped TiO2 nanopowders were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The C-N-Y TiO2 photo-catalyst was prepared using hexamine and yttrium nitrate Hexahydrate as the dopant precursors. Methyl-orange (MO) was used to study the photocatalytic performance of the doped TiO2 under UV irradiation. The synthesized samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Photoluminescence and Field emission scanning electron microscopy. The tri-doped sample with 8% N, 0.4% Y and 1.5% C exhibited enhanced photocatalytic efficiencies. After 100 min of irradiation with UV light, 87% of MO was decomposed by C-N-Y tri-doped TiO2 sample. It is suggested that the co-activity of C and N could make the intra-gap localized states above the valence band of TiO2, and carbon in TiO2 structure causes carbonate species to appear. These carbonate species acted as photosensitizer on the TiO2 surface to promote photocatalytic activity of the as synthesized sample.