Fluorine-Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles Sensitized by Tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin and Zinc Tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin: Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation of Photocatalytic Activity

In this study 7702 nanoparticles have been doped with fluorine (F-TiO2,) and consequently sensitized with tetra(4-calboxiphenyl)polphyrin (TCPP/F-TiO2,) or zinc tetra(4-carboxjphenylipolphyrin (Zn7TCPP/F-TiO2) to evend their light absotption into the visible region. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR, and UV-Vis assays. F-TiO, nanoparticles were completely in anatase phase with particle size range of 50-200 nrn. Fluorine-doping of the 7702 nanoparticles led to a red shift in their absorption spectrum, while did not significantly changed their band gap (from 2.9 to 2.8 eV). ZnTCPP/F-TiO2 and particularly TCPP/F-TiO2 F-TiO, nanoparticles displayed improved visible light absorbency with decreased band gap values (1.5 and 2.4 eV, respectively). The photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles has been studied through degradation of RIJOCICRIll Ile 13 in aqueous media under UV and visible light irradiation. The prepared pholocatalysts showed lower activity than Degussa P-25 under ITV light irradiation. However, under visible light irradiation, F-TiO, nanoparticles better photocatalyzed the RhB degradation than Degussa P-25 Meanwhile, ZnTCPP/FTiO, and mainly TCPP7F-TiO2 nanoparticles were completely photoactive under risible light irradiation. (C) 2015 An wrican institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 1341-1348, 2015