Publication

Abstract : In the present study, we have focused on the synthesis and characterization of undoped (ZT-0) and Zinc doped TiO2 nanoparticles (ZT1-0.3 M and ZT2-0.5 M) using the sol–gel method and analyzed the photocatalytic degradation activity of methyl orange under UV irradiation. The synthesized particles were characterized by XRD, UV–Visible absorption spectra, Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, SEM and EDS. From XRD analysis the synthesized samples showed tetragonal crystal structure with the peaks matching with the JCPDS data for anatase, rutile, and ZnO. The average crystallite size was found to vary from 27 to 3 nm when the zinc concentration increased from 0 to 0.5 M. Both anatase and rutile phases were noted in the XRD spectra of synthesized samples and it was confirmed by micro-Raman analysis. The calculated anatase and rutile ratios for the prepared samples were found to be 10:90 (ZT-0), 67:33 (ZT-1) and 58:42 (ZT-2). From the Kubelka-Munk plot, the bandgap values were found to be increased from 2.8 to 3.03 eV when Zn concentration increased from 0 to 0.5 M and this was attributed to the incorporation of metal ions into the TiO2 lattice. From PL analysis, the emission band in the blue region was due to Zn doping and it led to increased PL intensities. From SEM analysis, the synthesized particles showed a spherical shape with agglomeration at some points and from EDS the elements present in the synthesized nanoparticles were noted. From the photocatalytic studies, the efficiency of ZT-0 (94%) was much greater than that of ZT-1 (33.07%) and ZT-2 (23.18%).