Visible Light Active Nitrogen and Cobalt Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity

Visible Light Active Nitrogen and Cobalt Doped TiO₂ Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity

Aroosa Javed*, Memoona Qammar, Rooha Khurram, Zaib-Un-Nisa

Department of Chemistry, School of natural Sciences (SNS), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)

*Corresponding Author: Aroosa Javed, Student, Department of Chemistry, National University of Sciences and technology,Scholars Ave,
H-12, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, Email: aroosa.899@gmail.com

Received date: 19 January, 2022 Accepted date: 12 February, 2022 Published Date: 23 February, 2022

Citation: Javed A, Qammar M, Khurram R, Nisa Z U(2022) Visible Light Active Nitrogen and Cobalt Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles:
Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity. Sci J Health Sci Res Vol: 1, Issu: 1 (58-64).

Abstract

Background: TiO₂ and different variants of nitrogen and cobalt co-doped TiO₂ (CoN-TiO₂) catalysts is reported in this study to utilize visible light efficiently in photocatalysis. Catalysts were successfully synthesized by employing the sol-gel method and crystalline phase analysis was carried out via X-ray Diffraction (XRD) which confirmed the formation of anatase phase with tetragonal structure. The spherical morphology and uniform size distribution in the range of 20-40 nm were validated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). While Diffused Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) was deployed for the study of optical properties and decrease in bandgap from 3.2 eV
for pristine TiO2 to 2.34 for 8 wt. % N, Co co-doped TiO2 was observed. The photocatalytic activity of pure TiO₂ and Co-N doped TiO₂ nanoparticles was studied against methyl orange and performance jumped from 32% for undoped to 80% for 8 wt. % N,Co co-doped TiO₂ that can be attributed to decreased bandgap and uniform size distribution.

Keywords: Photodegradation, Sol-gel synthesis, Nitrogen and cobalt co-doped TiO₂, Photocatalysis, Methyl orange.