Synthesis and characterization of carbon-doped titania as a visible-light-sensitive photocatalyst

The synthesis and use of carbon-doped TiO2 particles in photocatalysis under visible light are demonstrated. The carbon-doped titania with its mesoporous structure was prepared by chemical modification and characterized by several techniques including X-ray diffiraction, transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron paramagnetic resonance spectra (EPR), and diffuse reflectance UV-Vis. absorption spectra, with emphasis on the effect of carbon as a doping compound to the titania. Based on EPR data, the photocatalytic activity by visible light can be ascribed to the trapping of electrons at interior sites of the carbon-doped titania between the valence and conduction bands in the titania band structure, and is able to activated by visible light of a wavelength of up to 550 nm. The photocatalytic activity of the carbon-doped TiO2 nanoparticles was evaluated by examining the decomposition of phenol by irradiation with artificial solar light (>420 nm) and the results were compared with those using Degussa P25, a commercially available titania nanomaterial.