High-performance Yb, N, P-tridoped anatase-TiO2 nano-photocatalyst with visible light response by sol-solvothermal method

Novel high-performance Yb, N, P-tridoped anatase-TiO2 nano-composite photocatalysts were successfully prepared by a modified sol-solvothermal process. The physicochemical properties of as-prepared samples were characterized X-ray diffraction, N2 physical adsorption–desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–vis absorbance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light and UV irradiation, respectively. The results indicated that Yb, N, P-tridoped TiO2 with P-doping amount of 5 wt.% exhibited the highest photoactivity not only under UV irradiation but also under visible light irradiation among all as-prepared undoped, single-doped and codoped samples, which should ascribed to a synergetic effect of actions played by Yb, N and P. The possible synergetic mechanism for photocatalysis was also discussed. The excellent performance endows the Yb, N, P-tridoped anatase-TiO2 nano-photocatalysts potential in environmental purification. This research provides an effective strategy for the synthesis of novel high-performance TiO2 nano-composite photocatalytic materials.

The results indicate that Yb, N or P single-doping leads to the decrease in the pHPZC of TiO2, and Yb, N, P-tridoping further reduces the pHPZC to 3.29, implying that Yb, N, P-tridoped sample has the highest adsorbability to MB cationic dye.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
• Yb, N, P-TiO2 was successfully prepared by a modified sol-solvothermal process.
• The enhanced photoactivity is ascribed to a synergetic effect of Yb, N, P-tridoping.
• The visible light response mainly attributes to presence of N and P in TiO2 lattice.
• P-doping obviously inhibits crystal growth and recombination of photogenerated e−/h+.
• Yb, N, P-tridoping further increases surface hydroxyl and decreases pHPZC of TiO2.