Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of N-doped TiO2/ZrO2 visible-light photocatalysts

Visible-light responsive N-doped ZrO2/TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized via a sol–gel process. To obtain the optimum nitrogen doping content and operational conditions for photodegradation of NO, several key factors (including nitrogen doping, initial NO concentration, light intensity, reactor temperature, etc.) were investigated under both UV and visible light irradiation. Physical characterization of the photocatalysts was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The observed results suggest that nitrogen was doped in the lattice of TiO2 and had an effect on the translation of phase, photodegradation activity, and visible-light response. Among synthesized photocatalysts, 0.1 M Zr and 0.15 M N supported on TiO2 exhibited the best visible-light response and the highest NO photodegradation activity.

The photocatalytic activity of N-doped ZrO2/TiO2 photocatalysts with different nitrogen doping contents was evaluated under both UV (a) and visible (b) light. The results clearly illustrate that the photocatalytic activity increase with an increase in nitrogen content until the optimum value of 0.15 M is reached.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Visible-light response N-doped ZrO2/TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized.
► The addition of nitrogen was favored to the anatase–rutile phase transformation.
► The nitrogen content has improved on the visible-light response.
► The nitrogen doping content affect to the NO photo degradation performance.