Preparation, characterization, and photocatalytic activity of visible light driven chlorine-doped TiO2

A novel chlorine-doped titanium dioxide catalyst with visible light response was prepared by hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate in hydrochloric acid. The catalyst samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results showed that the doped element of Cl lowered the temperature of phase transformation of TiO2 from amorphous to anatase and from anatase to rutile. The absorption edge of chlorine-doped TiO2 calcined at 300 degrees C shifted to the visible light region. XPS results proved that chlorine existed in the TiO2 crystal lattice as an anion. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol showed that under visible light (lambda >400 nm) irradiation, the chlorine-doped TiO2 photocatalyst calcined at 300 degrees C displayed the best performance, and the degradation ratio of phenol was 42.5% after 120 min.