Photocatalytic abilities of gel-derived P-doped TiO2

P-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized through hydrolysis and condensation of Ti(OC2H5)(4) with H3PO4 additions. Effects of [H3PO4]/[Ti(OC2H5)(4)] molar ratios on the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation, crystallite sizes, surface areas, and photocatalytic abilities of the gel-derived P-doped TiO2 were investigated. The P-doped TiO2 natioparticles prepared by [H3PO4]/[Ti(OC2H5)(4)] = 0.03 were composed of anatase monophase even at 900 degrees C and possessed very strong photocatalytic ability. Kinetic studies on the P-doped TiO2 to photocatalytically decompose methylene blue under irradiation of 365 nm UV light found that the P-doped TiO2 prepared by [H(3)pO(4)]/[Ti(OC2H5)(4)] = 0.03 and calcined at 800 degrees C had the specific reaction rates, at 25 degrees C k(A,m) = 0.76 m(3) /(kg min) (based on the mass of P-cloped TiO2) and k(A,BET) = 46.2 x 10(-6) m/min (based on the BET surface area of P-doped TiO2), which is superior to the performance of a commercial product, P25 (k(A,m) = 0.22 m(3)/(kg min) and k(A,BET) = 4.8 x 10(-6) m/min). (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.