N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles obtained by a facile coprecipitation method at low temperature

N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a facile synthesis route by coprecipitation method. The effect of the HNO3 volume and calcination temperature on the structural, morphological, optical and surface properties of the N-doped TiO2 NPs was studied. X-ray diffraction analysis showed particles of nanometric size (< 16 nm), which are consistent with HR-TEM micrographs. A slight shift of the absorption edge to higher wavelengths is observed as the HNO3 volume and calcination temperature increases. Both X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) show the presence and stability of nitrogen in the N-doped TiO2 structure. The photocatalytic activity of the N-doped TiO2 NPs was assessed by testing the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light.