Transition metal doped titania: Physical properties and photocatalytic behaviour

Titanium dioxide is one of the most efficient photocatalysts for the detoxification of organically charged waste water. However, this material suffers from the drawback of poor absorption properties because of a band gap of 3,2 eV. Thus, wavelengths shorter than 400 nm are needed for light induced generation of electron-hole pairs. That is why doping with transition metal ions is interesting for inducing a bathochromic shift of the band gap. However, this doping changes other physical properties such as lifetime of electron-hole pairs and adsorption characteristics. © by Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, München.