Doping level effect on sunlight-driven W,N-co-doped TiO2-anatase photo-catalysts for aromatic hydrocarbon partial oxidation

A series of nanosized W,N-co-doped anatase TiO2 catalysts with different dopant contents has been prepared by a microemulsion method and examined in the sunlight selective photo-oxidation of toluene and styrene. The activity results have been correlated with structural, electronic, and surface examinations of the catalysts done with the help of XRD-Rietveld, N-2 physisorption and NH3 chemisorption-calorimetry, XPS, Infrared, and UV-visible spectroscopies. Irrespective of the reaction, a consistent reaction rate enhancement with respect to titania (nano-TiO2, P25) references and W-doped TiO2 systems is observed for single-phase anatase W,N-co-doped samples. This is likely linked with the decrease of the band gap energy decrease and results from a combined W-N cooperative effect on structural properties of the anatase network. W,N simultaneous presence also makes a drastic effect on selectivity, maximizing the yield to partial oxidation products. This appears related with surface properties of the materials. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.