Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol Compound Over Tungsten-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

The photocatalytic degradation of tungsten doped titanium dioxide photocatalysts was investigated in this research. The catalysts were successfully prepared by impregnation method. The nominal W-dopant was varied as 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mol %. Anatase was the major phase while rutile was a minor phase from XRD results. XRD pattern of 5.0 mol % W-doped TiO2 indicated that the sample was also formed in the lower intensity of mixed phase of anatase and rutile compared with pure TiO2. It might be due to tungsten doping disturbed the crystal structure of TiO2. The crystallite size of 5.0 mol % W-doped TiO2 was found as ∼17.3 nm. The SEM micrograph showed the spherical like shape with aggregation of TiO2 particles in the range of 80−100 nm. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol was investigated over prepared catalysts under visible light irradiation. The highest activity was found up to 53.54 % over 5.0 mol % Wdoped TiO2. Moreover, its efficiency was significantly higher than pure TiO2 (Degussa P25) around 25 times. Therefore, the doping of W into TiO2 could be greatly enhanced the photocatalytic activity.