Effects of I-doping content on the structural, optical and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanocrystalline powders

I-doping TiO2 nanocrystalline powders were synthesised by a simple co-precipitation method. After heat treatment at 500 °C, an anatase crystalline phase has been stabilised. The structural and optical properties of the nanostructured powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman and UV–vis spectrometry. With an increase of the iodine dopant quantity the crystallites size tends to decrease and there is an increase in the structure deformation. A decrease of the energy band gap was observed with an increase of the iodine amount. An increase of the photocatalytic activity of the I-doped TiO2 nanostructured powders with the increase of the iodine content was also observed due to the decrease of the energy bad gap.

Graphical abstractThe figure presents the efficiency of the degradation process in presence of I-doped TiO2 under UV and visible radiation for 300 min. Insert is presented the UV–vis spectra changing of Methylene Blue in the presence of I-TiO2 5.44% suspension as a function of irradiation time.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Simple and novel synthesis method for I-doped TiO2 nanocrystalline powders. ► The effects of the iodine on structural and optical properties was determined. ► The catalytic activity of the powders increased with increase of iodine content. ► I-TiO2 showed a high photocatalytic activity under low UV and visible radiation.