Characterization and photocatalytic properties of transition metal doped TiO2 and nanocomposite TiO2 powders synthesized by mechanical alloying

Transition metal doped TiO2 (Ni, Fe, Cu) and nanocomposite TiO2 powders with rutile phase were synthesized by mechanical alloying and heat treatment, and were characterized by XRD, TEM, UV-DRS, and PL (Photoluminescence). Photocatalytic activity was also investigated with the degradation rate of 4-chlorophenol and measured by total organic carbon analyzer. TEM-EDP and XRD patterns showed that the transition metal doped powders (only alloyed powder) were in the form of rutile phase with the particle size of 20-30 nm. The average grain size of transition metal doped powders was in the range of less than 10 run. However, after heat treatment, the alloyed powder formed composite of the titanate and rutile phase. The UV-DRS and PL investigation showed that Ni doped 8 wt% nanocomposite TiO2 had the higher wavelength range (600-660 nm) (2.0-1.9 eV) than that of the commercial P-25 powder(380-400 nm) by Degussa Co. indicating that the Ni 8 wt% doped nanocomposite TiO2 shifted the absorption into the visible light region and thus, enhanced the photocatalytic activity. Further, these results agreed well with TOC investigation. Formation of titanate in transition metal doped TiO2 due to heat treatment was found to control the grain growth of nano-sized TiO2 and to enhance its thermal stability at high temperature.