Photocatalytic study of polymorphic titania synthesized by ambient condition sol process

Nanocrystalline titania of different phases were produced by ambient condition sol process with phase control originating from alterations in experimental variables. The produced titania photocatalysts were characterized by use of x-ray diffraction, BET surface area, transmission electron microscopy and related to methyl orange degradation. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of brookite and anatase phase titania samples to be greater than that of Degussa P-25 and rutile phase titania sample. In addition, brookite, due to surface area considerations, appears to be the most photocatalytically active phase of titania.     

Enhancing Photocatalytic Activity of Polymorphic Titania Nanoparticles by NMP Solvent-based Ambient Condition Process

Solvent-based ambient condition sol (SACS) process with N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) as the solvent, is a post-treatment technique utilized to modify polymorphic titania nanoparticles prepared by a water-based ambient condition sol process. All samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ physisorption, CHNS analysis, UV–vis absorption spectrophotometry, FT-IR, and TEM and compared to a commercial reference titania product, Degussa P25. Photocatalytic activity, evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light (VL), showed that SACS, with NMP as the solvent, is a powerful treatment to enhance TiO₂ photocatalytic activity by minimizing lattice hydroxyls and doping titania samples with nitrogen.