Nanostructured Ti(1-x)S(x)O(2-y)N(y) heterojunctions for efficient visible-light-induced photocatalysis

Inorg Chem. 2012 Jul 2;51(13):7164-73. doi: 10.1021/ic3001653. Epub 2012 Jun 12.

Abstract

Highly visible-light-active S,N-codoped anatase-rutile heterojunctions are reported for the first time. The formation of heterojunctions at a relatively low temperature and visible-light activity are achieved through thiourea modification of the peroxo-titania complex. FT-IR spectroscopic studies indicated the formation of a Ti(4+)-thiourea complex upon reaction between peroxo-titania complex and thiourea. Decomposition of the Ti(4+)-thiourea complex and formation of visible-light-active S,N-codoped TiO(2) heterojunctions are confirmed using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV/vis spectroscopic studies. Existence of sulfur as sulfate ions (S(6+)) and nitrogen as lattice (N-Ti-N) and interstitial (Ti-N-O) species in heterojunctions are identified using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. UV-vis and valence band XPS studies of these S,N-codoped heterojunctions proved the fact that the formation of isolated S 3p, N 2p, and Π* N-O states between the valence and conduction bands are responsible for the visible-light absorption. Titanium dioxide obtained from the peroxo-titania complex exists as pure anatase up to a calcination temperature as high as 900 °C. Whereas, thiourea-modified samples are converted to S,N-codoped anatase-rutile heterojunctions at a temperature as low as 500 °C. The most active S,N-codoped heterojunction 0.2 TU-TiO(2) calcined at 600 °C exhibits a 2-fold and 8-fold increase in visible-light photocatalytic activities in contrast to the control sample and the commercial photocatalyst Degussa P-25, respectively. It is proposed that the efficient electron-hole separation due to anatase to rutile electron transfer is responsible for the superior visible-light-induced photocatalytic activities of S,N-codoped heterojunctions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Light*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nitrogen / chemistry*
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Phototrophic Processes
  • Sulfur / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Sulfur
  • Titanium
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen