Characterization and Assessment of the Photo-catalytic Efficiency of Palladium/Silver Doped TiO₂Nanoparticles

Abstract

The effect of modified TiO₂with palladium, silver and co-dopant of palladium and silver on TiO₂ with its photocatalytic efficiency were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer-Emmet –Teller (BET). The photocatalysts were prepared by sol immobilization method and characterized using XRD and BET techniques. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the dopants were found to be uniform with the standard P25 degussa TiO₂. From the peak formation of anatase and rutile phases, it was found that the Pd/TiO₂formed uniform matrix of anatase and rutile indicating that palladium ion disperses evenly on P25 degussa TiO₂. The peak formation on Ag/TiO₂ and Pd/AgTiO₂shows the same uniform distribution of silver and palladium ion, only that foreign peak were observed on the formation of anatase and rutile because of impurity on silver. The crystalline size of the catalyst and full width at half maximum (FWHM) were also calculated at different angles of diffraction. The BET shows that the photocatalysts were mesoporous and is type IV isotherm. The high mesopore of the catalyst increases its photocatalytic activity, so also type IV isotherm. The BET analysis shows that the pore size distribution of the catalyst is between 2nm and 50nm which shows that the catalyst is mesoporous. It also gives high surface area with high volume and low pore size (crystalline size) which increases the photocatalytic efficiency. So co-doping of palladium and silver on TiO₂ can serve as a strategy for design of high performance photocalysts for environmental benefits.

Keywords: Brunauer-Emmet –Teller; co-doping; mesoporous; Pd/AgTiO2