Efficient photo-oxidation of NOx by Sn doped blue TiO2 nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. A, Chemistry. Vol. 370; pp. 18 - 25
• Main Authors: Martinez-Oviedo, Adriana, Ray, Schindra Kumar, Nguyen, Hoang Phuc, Lee, Soo Wohn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2019
• Subjects: DeNOx; Li/EDA; Oxygen vacancies; Reduced TiO2; Sn doped; Sn doped; Oxygen vacancies; Reduced TiO2; DeNOx; Li/EDA
• ISSN: 1010-6030; 1873-2666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2018.10.032

[Display omitted] •Fabrication of Sn-doped reduced blue TiO2 by using super-base of Li/EDA.•72% removal efficiency of NOx gases within 60 min under solar light irradiation.•Less release (29.42%) of toxic NO2 gas than P25 TiO2 (125.19%). The reduced Sn-doped blue TiO2 powder was fabricated by Li/EDA reduction method. The as-prepared oxygen-deficient samples were characterized by various techniques. The crystal composition revealed a double-phase structure of ordered-anatase and disordered-rutile. According to morphological studies, small particles are assembled in a mesoporous surface with large porous distribution. Moreover, the doped photocatalyst presents an increase in Ti3+ species by the substitution of Ti4+ by Sn2+ ions during reduction of TiO2 on the basis of XPS analysis. Also, low PL intensity of doped photocatalyst indicates the efficient prevention of electron-hole recombination. The photocatalytic activity of the blue Sn-TiO2 powder exhibits a high performance towards the photo-oxidation of NO gas, with an efficiency of around 72% within 60 min under solar light irradiation. In addition, the doped photocatalyst generates 29.42% of the toxic NO2 gas which is very less than the blue TiO2 (107.79%) and P25 TiO2 (125.19%). The enhancement of deNOx efficiency of the doped photocatalyst is associated with the increase in visible light absorption, reduction of the band gap, the introduction of new energy level between the valence band and conduction band, high BET surface area, and low recombination rate of electron-hole pairs. So, this photocatalyst can be applied as air pollutant remediation.