Preparation and characterization of anatase N-F-codoped TiO2 sol and its photocatalytic degradation for formaldehyde

Anatase nitrogen and fluoride codoped TiO2 Sol (N-F-TiO2) catalysts were fabricated by a modified sol-gel hydrothermal method, using tetrabutyl titanate as precursor. The microstructure and morphology of sol sample were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (UV-VIS-DRS), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc. It was shown that N-F-TiO2 particles in sol were partly crystallized to anatase structure and dispersed in the aqueous medium homogeneously. The average particle size was ∼12.0 nm calculated from XRD patterns, and the particle size distribution was narrow. It was noteworthy that the N-F-codoped TiO2 Sol Particles showed strong visible-light response and high photocatalytic activity for formaldehyde degradation under irradiation by visible light (400-500 nm); we suggested that it may result from the generation of additional band of N 2p in the forbidden band and the synergetic effect of codoping nitrogen and fluorine. © 2007 Materials Research Society.