Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity of visible light driven chlorine-doped TiO2

Abstract

A novel chlorine-doped titanium dioxide catalyst with visible light response was prepared by hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate in hydrochloric acid. The catalyst samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). Results showed that the doped element of Cl lowered the temperatures of phase transformation of TiO₂ from amorphous to anatase and from anatase to rutile. The absorption edge of chlorine-doped TiO₂ calcined at 300vH shifted to visible light region. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results proved that chlorine existed in the TiO₂ crystal lattice as anion. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol showed that under visible light (λ>400 nm) irradiation, the chlorine-doped TiO₂ calcined at 300vH displayed the best performance, the degradation ratio of phenol was 42.5% after 120 min.