Copper-/Zinc-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanopowders Synthesized by Microwave-Assisted Sol–Gel Method
Luminița Predoană,
Gabriela Petcu,
Silviu Preda,
Jeanina Pandele-Cușu,
Simona Viorica Petrescu,
Adriana Băran,
Nicoleta G. Apostol,
Ruxandra M. Costescu,
Vasile-Adrian Surdu,
Bogdan Ştefan Vasile,
Adelina C. Ianculescu
Affiliations
Luminița Predoană
Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu” of the Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Gabriela Petcu
Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu” of the Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Silviu Preda
Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu” of the Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Jeanina Pandele-Cușu
Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu” of the Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Simona Viorica Petrescu
Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu” of the Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Adriana Băran
Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu” of the Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Nicoleta G. Apostol
National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomiștilor 405A, 077125 Măgurele, Romania
Ruxandra M. Costescu
National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomiștilor 405A, 077125 Măgurele, Romania
Vasile-Adrian Surdu
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, “Politehnica” University of Bucharest, 1–7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Bogdan Ştefan Vasile
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, “Politehnica” University of Bucharest, 1–7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Adelina C. Ianculescu
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, “Politehnica” University of Bucharest, 1–7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Using the microwave-assisted sol–gel method, Zn- and Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with an anatase crystalline structure were prepared. Titanium (IV) butoxide was used as a TiO2 precursor, with parental alcohol as a solvent and ammonia water as a catalyst. Based on the TG/DTA results, the powders were thermally treated at 500 °C. XRD and XRF revealed the presence of a single-phase anatase and dopants in the thermally treated nanoparticles. The surface of the nanoparticles and the oxidation states of the elements were studied using XPS, which confirmed the presence of Ti, O, Zn, and Cu. The photocatalytic activity of the doped TiO2 nanopowders was tested for the degradation of methyl-orange (MO) dye. The results indicate that Cu doping increases the photoactivity of TiO2 in the visible-light range by narrowing the band-gap energy.
