Visible light-driven photocatalysis of W, N co-doped TiO2

W, N co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol–gel method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry (DRS). The results showed that the co-doped photocatalysts were essentially uniform spherical particles with the smallest particle size of 22.5 nm. Compared to un-doped TiO2, N-TiO2 and P-25, the absorption edge of the W, N co-doped TiO2 shifted to longer wavelength and its photocatalytic activity for degradation of methyl orange (MO) under Xe-lamp (350 W) was higher.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► W, N co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles was synthesized by a sol–gel method. ► W, N co-doped TiO2 absorption edge shifted to longer wavelength. ► Its photocatalytic activity for degradation of methyl orange under natural light was higher.