Photodegradation of organic dye using co-doped Ag/Cu TiO_2 nanoparticles: synthesis and characterization

摘要

In this study, TiO_2 nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel method with the mean particle size of 25 nm. Ag and Cu were co-doped on nanoparticles via impregnation method. The effect of Ag, Cu and co-dope temperature in TiO_2 nanoparticles was evaluated by their photocatalytic activity. Design Expert software was used to design the experiments with RSM method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the prepared nanoparticles. Parameters such as reduction in X-ray diffraction intensity, change in the diffraction angle (20), and lattice parameter proved that silver and copper were completely co-doped in TiO_2 nanoparticles. Degradation efficiency of 50% was attained at 48 ℃ after 45 min of irradiation with a 100-W lamp.