Synthesis and characterization of Sn-doped TiO۲ nanoparticles and the evaluation of their Photocatalytic performance under Vis-lights

Dyes are produced as water pollutants in the textile, plastic, and dye industries. Many efforts have been made to remove dyes from industrial wastewater. In this area, Photocatalytic performance under Vis-lights is a useful and effective method. In this study, a series of highly efficient Sn-doped TiO۲ photocatalysts were successfully developed using a simple heat treatment process. Three concentrations of SnCl۲ powder (۳%, ۵%, and ۷ %) were used for the preparation of materials.  The characterizations of resulting materials were distinguished by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffusion reflection spectroscopy (DRS), and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (EDX). Also, methyl orange dye was served to indicate the photocatalytic activity of Sn-doped material under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that both doped and also pure TiO۲ have a uniform size. Anatase was the only identified phase in all the products, whether doped or un-doped. The resulting Sn-doped materials have demonstrated a band gap value range of ۳.۱۴ to ۲.۶۸ eV in comparison with pure TiO۲ which shows a value of ۳.۲ eV. The photocatalytic evaluations indicated that the samples prepared in the presence of ۳, ۵, and ۷% SnCl۲ have degradation efficiencies of ۸۵%, ۸۵%, and ۹۰%, respectively within ۱۲۰ min, which are much higher than that of un-doped TiO۲. The enhancement in the efficiency was attributed to the gap changes in anatase by the incorporation of Sn ions into the TiO۲ lattice structure. Compared to pure TiO۲, which has a band gap of ۳.۲ eV, the band gap values for doped TiO۲ ranged from ۳.۱۴ to ۲.۶۸ eV. 

کلیدواژه ها:

photocatalyst ، Sn-doped TiO۲ ، nanoparticles ، Anatase