Abstract:

This study describes the application of a novel chemistry method based on a modified sol-gel technique for the fabrication of nanostructured non-metal doped TiO2 photocatalytic films that can be activated under both visible and UV light. A self-assembling surfactant was employed as a pore-directing agent and a nitrogen-containing compound as doping precursor. Different surfactant ratios were explored to tailor-design the desired structural properties of TiO2 (i.e., high surface area, small crystal size) and enhanced the photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination. The films were characterized by XRD, ESEM, TEM, AFM, EPR, micro-Raman, XPS, UV-vis spectroscopy and N2 porosimetry. The photocatalytic evaluation of the films was tested for the degradation of microcystin-LR and the effects of NOM, pH, alkalinity, and dissolved oxygen under visible light irradiation were investigated. The multifunctional behavior exhibited for the non-metal doped TiO2 films can lead to important photoinduced applications including environmental protection (water disinfection, self-cleaning surfaces) and sustainable solar energy conversion to electricity (dye-sensitized solar cells).

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