Enhanced photocatalytic activity of titania with unique surface indium and boron species

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 273; pp. 638 - 644
• Main Authors: Yu, Yanlong, Wang, Enjun, Yuan, Jixiang, Cao, Yaan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.05.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: 4-Chlorophenol degradation; Boron; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Indium; Lattices; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Physics; Surface chemistry; TiO2; Titanium dioxide; Unique O–In–Clx (x = 1 or 2) surface species; Visible photocatalytic activity; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Unique O–In–Clx (x=1 or 2) surface species; 4-Chlorophenol degradation; Visible photocatalytic activity; TiO2; Boron; Inorganic compounds; Transition element compounds; (x=1 or 2) surface species; TiO; Indium; Titanium oxide; Unique O―In―Cl
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.02.098

[Display omitted] ► The doping energy level will result in an enhanced visible light photocatalysis. ► Both the doped indium ions in the catalyst exist as unique O–In–Clx surface species. ► The doping B ions exist in interstitial mode and as B2O3 surface species. Indium and boron co-doped TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by a sol–gel method. The structure and properties of photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, XPS, UV–vis DRS and PL techniques. It is found that boron is mainly doped into the lattice of TiO2 in interstitial mode, while indium is present as unique chemical species of O–In–Clx (x=1 or 2) on the surface. Compared with pure TiO2, the narrowness of band gap of TiO2 doped with indium and boron is due to the mixed valence band formed by B2p of interstitial doped B ions hybridized with lattice O2p. And the surface state energy levels of O–In–Clx (x=1 or 2) and B2O3 species were located at about 0.4 and 0.3eV below the conduction band respectively, which could lead to significant absorption in the visible-light region and facilitated the effectually separation of photogenerated carriers. Therefore, indium and boron co-doped TiO2 showed the much higher photocatalytic activities than pure TiO2, boron doped TiO2 (TiO2–B) and indium doped TiO2 (TiO2–In) under visible and UV light irradiation.