Effects of N and F doping on structure and photocatalytic properties of anatase TiO2nanoparticles

Abstract

A facile solvothermal method has been developed for preparing anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles doped with nitrogen (N) or co-doped with N and fluorine (F). The effects of N and F doping or co-doping on the structural and photocatalytic properties of anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles were investigated. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles, confirming the successful synthesis of anatase TiO₂. The crystal cell parameters and crystal size decreased with the doping of N or co-doping of N and F. Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under both UV and visible light irradiation revealed that the photocatalytic activity of anatase TiO₂ was greatly improved by N doping or N and F co-doping. The effect of TiO₂ bandgap narrowing and the synergistic effect between co-dopants N and F on photocatalytic performance of TiO₂ were also discussed. The N–F-co-doped TiO₂ is thus a promising material for photocatalytic applications.