Preparation and visible photocatalytic dye degradation of Mn-TiO₂/sepiolite photocatalysts

Abstract

The performance of Mn-TiO₂/sepiolite photocatalysts prepared by the sol-gel method and calcinated at different temperatures was studied in the photocatalytic degradation of direct fast emerald green dye under visible light irradiation, and a series of analytical techniques such as XRD, SEM, FTIR, TG-DSC, XPS, UV-vis-DRS and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the morphology, structure and optical properties of the photocatalysts. It is found that the anatase TiO₂ was formed in all photocatalysts. Mn⁴⁺ might incorporate into the lattice structure of TiO₂ and partially replace Ti⁴⁺, thus causing the defects in the crystal structure and the broadening of the spectral response range of TiO₂. At the same time, TiO₂ particles were dispersed on the surface of the sepiolite, which immobilized TiO₂ particles with sepiolite via the bond of Ti−O−Si. Mn-TiO₂/sepiolite calcined at 400 °C exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity and the degradation rate of direct fast emerald green is up to 98.13%. Meanwhile, it also shows good stability and universality.

Keywords

Mn-TiO₂/sepiolite / calcination temperature / photocatalytic degradation / visible light irradiation / dye wastewater

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21406184) and the Foundation of Youth Science and Technology Innovation Team of Sichuan Province (Grant No. 2015TD0007).

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