Synthesis and modification of nano-sized TiO2 for photo-degradation process under visible light irradiation; A Placket-Burman experimental design

Abstract

In this research, nitrogen and iron (III) co-doped nano TiO2 (N-Fe-TiO2) was prepared by sol-gel method using ammonium chloride and iron chloride solutions as nitrogen and iron sources, respectively. The effect of synthesis parameters (weight ratios of N/TiO2 and Fe/TiO2, synthesis temperature, calcination time and temperature) was simultaneously investigated on the quality of the N-Fe-TiO2 product by a two-level Placket-Burman experimental design. The synthesized powders were characterized by XRD, XPS and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques. The mean crystal size and anatase content were determined and evaluated as the linear functions of so-called synthesis parameters by the statistical analysis and regression. The 2%N-1%Fe-TiO2 product by 11 nm mean crystal size and 78% anatase content, synthesized at 35 C and calcined at 500 C during 2 h, exhibited the most significant activity during the photo-degradation of acetaldehyde under visible light irradiation and its efficiency was obtained about four times more than photocatalytic activity of Degussa TiO2-P25. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.