A novel method to synthesize molybdenum doped TiO2 films with enhanced photocatalytic activity

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2017-06, Vol.123 (6), p.1-7, Article 451
• Main Authors: Luo, Qiang, Cai, Qizhou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Anatase; Applied physics; Catalytic activity; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Crystal structure; Degradation; Emission analysis; Field emission microscopy; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Methylene blue; Molybdenum; Morphology; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Oxidation; Phase transitions; Photocatalysis; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Porosity; Processes; Scanning electron microscopy; Sodium molybdate; Spectrophotometry; Surfaces and Interfaces; Synthesis; Thin Films; Titanium dioxide; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-017-1063-6

Micro arc oxidation method was utilized to prepare molybdenum doped TiO 2 films through adding sodium molybdate into the electrolyte for the first time. The effect of sodium molybdate concentration on the morphology, crystal structure and photophysical properties of the films was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and UV–vis spectrophotometry. The results showed that with increasing of sodium molybdate concentration, the pores of films decreased in size and increased in number, more anatase phase transformed to rutile phase in the films and inter-plane spacing of the films increased. Furthermore, the absorption edges of the films shifted towards longer wavelength and the band gap energies of the films decreased with increasing the concentration of sodium molybdate. In addition, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue showed that the photocatalytic activity of the molybdenum doped TiO 2 film was about 2.3 times that of pure TiO 2 film.