Preparation of Ce, N-Codoped Mesoporous Titania Photocatalyst with High Photocatalytic Activity under Visible Light

Abstract

Ce, N-codoped mesoporous TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared using surfactant- assisted sol-gel method. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared titania nanoparticles was determined by measuring the degradation of methylene blue under solar light irradiation, and was compared against the activity of single-doped titania. All of the photocatalysts exhibited the anatase phase, but the codoped sample showed smaller crystallite size. The codoped sample had a structure with wormlike channels and a mesopore structure. The photocatalytic activity of the Ce, Ncodoped mesoporous TiO2 photocatalysts was enhanced relative to the activity of Ndoped mesoporous TiO2 and Ce-doped mesoporous TiO2. These observations are in good agreement with the results of the UV-vis spectral analysis.