Mo + C codoped TiO(2) using thermal oxidation for enhancing photocatalytic activity

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysis is limited by UV-vis light absorption and charge carrier recombination.
• Theoretical studies suggest Molybdenum (Mo) and Carbon (C) codoping optimizes TiO2 for enhanced photocatalytic performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally synthesize Molybdenum and Carbon codoped TiO2 (Mo+C codoped TiO2).
• To investigate the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of the synthesized material.
• To validate theoretical predictions regarding Mo+C codoping in TiO2.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Mo+C codoped TiO2 via thermal oxidation of TiC and MoO3 mixture.
• Characterization using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).
• Evaluation of photocatalytic activity through methylene blue decomposition and photocurrent measurements.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of anatase TiO2 codoped with Mo and C.
• XRD and XPS confirmed the presence of a Ti-O-C band structure and Mo(6+) in TiO2.
• Mo+C codoped TiO2 exhibited a 32 nm red shift in spectrum onset and a reduced band gap (2.97 eV from 3.20 eV).
• Photocurrent increased approximately fourfold compared to pure TiO2.
• Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was observed.

Conclusions:

• Mo+C codoping is an effective strategy to enhance TiO2 photocatalytic activity.
• The enhanced performance is attributed to improved light absorption and charge separation.
• The synthesized Mo+C codoped TiO2 shows significant potential for environmental applications.