Novel Route to Obtain Carbon Self-doped TiO2 Mesoporous Nanoparticles as Efficient Photocatalysts for Environmental Remediation Processes under Visible Light

OCHOA RODRIGUEZ, PABLO A.; BENZAQUÉN, TAMARA B.; GINA PECCHI; CASUSCELLI, SANDRA G.; VERONICA, ELÍAS; EIMER, GRISELDA A.

Materials Journal

MDPI

Año: 2019

1996-1944

Titanium dioxide materials were synthesized using two different methods. The samples were characterized by XRD, UV-Vis DR, N2 adsorption/desorption, SEM, EDX, TEM and XPS. Although both kind of materials were found to have mesoporous structure and anatase crystalline phase, one of them was obtained from a synthesis method that does not involve the use of surfactants, and therefore, not requiring calcination at high temperatures. This implies that the synthesized solid was self-doped with carbon species, coming only from the same source used for titanium. Then, the relationship between the presence of these species, the final calcination temperature, and the photocatalytic activity of the solids was studied in terms of the degradation and mineralization of an Acid Orange 7 aqueous solution, under visible radiation. A photosensitizing effect caused by the non-metal presence, that allows the solid to extend its absorption range, was found. Hence, a novel route to prepare C-modified photoactive mesoporous TiO2, simpler and cheaper, where neither a template nor an external carbon source is used, could be performed.