Photocatalytic performance of Fe-, Ni-, or Cu-ion implanted TiO2 films under UV light, visible light and sunlight irradiation

TiO2 thin films were fabricated on microscope glass slides by sol-gel method. Then Fe, Ni or Cu ions were implanted in the films. XRD, XPS and UV-Vis spectrophotometer technologies were used to characterize the films. The results of photodegradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution demonstrate: (1) the films are of visible light response photocatalytic activity; (2) under UV light and sunlight excitation, all the films present less efficient than pure TiO2 film. The photodegradation effects of transition metal ion implanted TiO2 thin films were discussed.