Fabrication and characterization of C-doped anatase TiO2 photocatalysts

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 1837 - 1839
• Main Authors: CHOI, Yeongsoo, UMEBAYASHI, T, YOSHIKAWA, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-03-2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anatase; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Materials science; Photochemistry; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Titanium dioxide; Titanium Carbides; Synthesis; Anatase; Transition metal Compounds; Photocatalysis; Titanium Oxides
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1023/B:JMSC.0000016198.73153.31

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has attracted great attention as a photocatalyst due to its excellent photochemical properties, non-toxicity and low cost. TiO2 appears in three crystalline polymorphic phases: rutile, anatase and brookite. Among them, anatase TiO2 exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity. The anatase, therefore, is the most effective and widely used photocatalyst. However, its shortcomings include a large band gap (approx 3.2 eV), which causes most of the solar spectrum to go unutilized. In order to extend the optical absorption of TiO2 to the visible spectral region, various impurities have been added into the oxide. For example, Anpo et al. showed that doping transition metal ions (Cr or V) into TiO2 catalysts by a high energy metal ion-implantation method allowed the efficient absorption of visible light, thus enabling the photocatalysts to operate under visible light irradiation. Recently, other researchers have reported that doping with non-metal atoms such as N or S shifted the optical absorption edge of TiO2 to lower energies, thereby increasing the photocatalytic activities in the visible region.