Enhanced photocatalytic activity of beryllium doped titania in visible light on the degradation of methyl orange dye

Abstract

Abstract The present work is focused on the synthesis of beryllium doped titania (Be+2–TiO2) at different percentages (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 wt.%) by the sol-gel method and its characterization using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform-Infra red and Ultra violet-visible absorption spectroscopic methods. Diffraction peaks of anatase crystalline phase were present in both synthesized TiO2 and Be+2–TiO2. The presence of Be+2 ion in the TiO2 structure caused a significant absorption shift towards the visible region and its presence was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier Transform-Infra Red data. The photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized Be+2–TiO2 and pure TiO2 was evaluated by the degradation of aqueous methyl orange dye under visible light irradiation, where the degradation rate of methyl orange by Be+2–TiO2 was found to be higher than by pure TiO2. This can be attributed to more efficient electron–hole creation in Be+2–TiO2 in visible light and the electrons produced due to photosensitization of the dye can be scavenged by photoexcited doped TiO2 in visible light.