Synthesis and properties of (Yb, N)-TiO2 photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation

• The (Yb, N)-TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared and characterized.
• The spectrum absorption region of (Yb, N)-TiO2 is red-shifted to visible light.
• The recombination of the photo-generated electron–hole pairs of (Yb, N)-TiO2 is suppressed.
• The photocatalytic activity of (Yb, N)-TiO2 is more higher than that of TiO2-P25, N-TiO2 and the Yb-TiO2.

(Yb, N)-TiO2 photocatalyst has been synthesized by sol–gel method combined with microwave chemical synthesis. Also, the efficiency of the (Yb, N)-TiO2 as a photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) using visible light irradiation has been evaluated. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, XPS, UV–vis-DRS and PL. The results show that the (Yb, N)-TiO2 photocatalyst has the anatase TiO2 crystalline phase. The TEM micrograph demonstrated that the average particle size of the sample was about 12 nm. The band-gap energy absorption edge shifted to longer wavelength as compared to commercial TiO2-P25, N-TiO2 and the Yb-TiO2 prepared by our group. Results of degradation revealed that the (Yb, N)-TiO2 has shown much more higher photocatalytic activity than that of the TiO2-P25, the N-TiO2 and the Yb-TiO2 under the visible light.

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