Structure and property of mesoporous molybdenum/carbon co-doped brookite titania

Phase-pure brookite TiO2 was prepared by hydrothermal method using Ti(SO4)2 as precursor. From the point of energy compensation, molybdenum/carbon co-doped brookite TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared in the presence of dissolved glucose and ammonium molybdate. The samples were characterized by thermoanalysis, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis/DRS), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), nitrogen adsorption and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples were tested on the photodecoloration of rhodamine B (Rh B) under simulated solar-light irradiation. The wavelength of light adsorption of co-doped samples is red shifted and the intensity of light adsorption increases highly in visible-light region compared with the single-doped samples. Thermal stability of brookite phase is improved greatly after co-doping, indicating that the co-doping facilitates the phase stabilization. Co-doping can improve the photodecoloration activity of composite brookite TiO2.