Enhancing the photocatalytic activity of TiO_2 nano-particles using novel tridentate N_2O Schiff base complexes

摘要

Abstract Two novel tridentate N2O Schiff base ligands, H2L1 ((E)-3-((2-amino-5-nitrophenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol) and H2L2 ((E)-4-((2-amino-5-nitrophenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,3-diol) and metal complexes [ML(DMF)] (where M = Ni2+, Cu2+ and VO2+) were synthesized. All new materials were studied by spectroscopic methods. The Schiff base complexes were loaded over TiO2 nano-particles and calcined at 450 °C. The MOX/TiO2 structure and morphology were characterized by IR, UV, TEM, SEM and XRD techniques. The effect of the photocatalytic activity of MOX/TiO2 semiconductor nano-particles on the degradation of methylene blue was investigated via visible light in the aqueous solution. Based on the results, incorporation of metal Schiff base complexes was found to improve the activation of mixed oxide nano particles with visible light.