Influence of Pd, Pt and Au nanoparticles in the photocatalytic performance of N-TiO 2 support under visible light

• Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences physical, and engineering sciences, 2024-11, Vol.382 (2282), p.20230271
• Main Authors: Medina, J C, Warren, Eleanor, Morgan, David, Gow, Isla E, Edwards, Jennifer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1364-503X; 1471-2962
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2023.0271

In this article, we report the modification and photocatalytic evaluation of commercial TiO -P25 under visible light for methyl orange (MO) dye degradation under visible light. The activity of materials doped with N, Pd, Pt and Au on to the TiO -P25 was evaluated, with optimal photocatalytic performance achieved using Au nanoparticles doped on an N-functionalized titania surface. X-ray diffraction (XRD), physical nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm curves, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to study the structural and textural properties of the samples. The chemical species present in the bulk and surface of the catalysts were identified using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The results show that Au/N-TiO photocatalyst presents a remarkable enhanced activity for MO dye degradation, under visible light illumination, reaching 100% after 4 h. The enhanced photocatalytic activity using this composite is attributable to the well-dispersed and small size of Au nanoparticles, large surface area, reduction of band-gap energy and the interaction between nitrogen and Au which promoted a synergistic effect. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Green carbon for the chemical industry of the future'.