The influence of cobalt doping on photocatalytic nano-titania: Crystal chemistry and amorphicity

Photocatalysts of nominal composition (Ti1−xCox)O2−δ with 0.001⩽x⩽0.05 were prepared via a sol–gel technique followed by air firing (200–1000 °C). The incorporation of cobalt inhibited crystal growth and slightly raised the anatase to rutile transformation temperature (∼700 °C). An amorphous component was invariably significant with the maximum content (41–53 wt%) appearing simultaneously with the removal of anatase, suggesting that rutile crystallizes via an aperiodic structure. While the introduction of cobalt shifted the apparent band gap to visible light energies this did not enhance performance as there was limited miscibility of cobalt in titania, non-catalytic secondary phases were present, and active Ti3+ sites were displaced by cobalt.

Graphical abstractCobaltiferous titania photocatalysts calcined at 200 °C contain up to 16 at% metal vacancies (V) and are significantly amorphous (up to 53 wt%). The presence of metal vacancies can be monitored by following the dilation of the ‘c’ lattice parameter as the crystallite size increases during calcination.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide