Preparation and Characterization of Bi3+-TiO2 and its Photocatalytic Activity

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology 2007-05, Vol.30 (5), p.577-582
• Main Authors: Zuo, H., Sun, J., Deng, K., Su, R., Wei, F., Wang, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemical engineering; Chemistry; Degradatio n; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Organic pollution; Photocatalysts; Reactors; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.200700022

Bi3+‐TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by doping bismuth ion into the TiO2 structure in a sol‐gel process. The catalyst samples were then characterized by UV‐vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Rodamine‐B (RhB) was used in this study as a model chemical with the aim of organic pollutants control. The photocatalytic degradation of RhB demonstrated that an optimal loading of bismuth 0.7 at. % achieved the highest photodegradation rate, with the rate constant increasing by a factor of 3.89 over neat TiO2 (P25) under UV illumination (λ ≥ 320 nm). The degradation of p‐nitrobenzonic acid (pNBA) was also examined to prevent/preclude/exclude/ the photosensitization pathway. GC‐MS results show that pNBA can be effectively degraded and minerized to small molecules, such as quinone, acetic acid and formic acid. Bi3+‐TiO2 photocata‐lysts are prepared by doping bismuth ion into the TiO2 structure in a sol‐gel process. Rodamine‐B (RhB) and p‐nitrobenzonic acid (pNBA) are used as model chemicals. GC‐MS results show that pNBA can be effectively degraded to small molecules, such as quinone, acetic acid and formic acid.