Preparation and characterization of N–TiO 2 photocatalyst with high crystallinity and enhanced photocatalytic inactivation of bacteria

This study reports the synthesis, characterization and environmental applications of nitrogen doped TiO 2 photocatalyst in the form of powder and film. N–TiO 2 photocatalysts were synthesized via the hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide using urea as the nitrogen source. The crystalline structure, particle size and specific surface area of the resultant N–TiO 2 nanoparticles were investigated by x-ray powder diffraction and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. The results showed that a mixture of anatase and brookite phases was formed at pH 1 after annealing the powder at 450 ° C for 4 h, in contrast to a pure anatase phase at pH 3. UV–vis spectral characterization showed that the absorption region of the as-prepared N–TiO 2 was extended to the visible light region. Stable sols could be achieved by controlling the molar ratio of water-to-titanium precursor and pH of the sols. During the photocatalytic test, in comparison to the standard c...

Binyu Yu, Woon Ming Lau and Jun Yang

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