THE PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF N-DOPED TiO2 UNDER SUNLIGHT

In order to utilize sunlight in a photocatalytic reaction, yellow N-doped titania was prepared by calcination of a mixture of the hydrolysis product(H2TiO3) of TiOSO4 and urea. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM and UV-Vis absorption spectra. The results showed that all catalysis were anatase, and the doping of nitrogen could extend the absorption spectra from UV light to the visible-light region. The photocatalytic activity of N-doped TiO2 was also characterized by degradation of methyl orange. The photocatalytic activity was affected by calcination temperature, time, Ti/N ratio. pH and concentration of titania. The results further showed that the pholocatalytic reaction rate of N-doped TiO2 was more rapid than the pure titania. There existed an optimal TUN ratio for the catalysts calcined at 400 degrees C, which resulted in the highest photocralytic activity.