Metal ions doped TiO2 nanotubes: synthesis, characterization and performance of metals doping in photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Metal-ions doped TiO2 nanotubes (M-TiO2, M=Mn,Cr,Cu,Fe and Al) were synthesized using an in-situ hydrothermal method. The XRD pattern shown metal-ions doped TiO2 nanotubes have an anatase phase. BET analysis shows that surface area was increased from 63.38 m2 /g to 138.44 m2 /g. The degradation rates of undoped-TiO2, Mn-TiO2, CrTiO2, Cu-TiO2, Fe-TiO2, and Al-TiO2 were 50%, 64%, 76%, 85%, 88%, and 93%, respectively. Al-TiO2 showed the highest photocatalytic performance due to the smallest ionic radii, highest surface area, and smallest crystalline size. It can be seen that the degradation of 10 ppm of methylene blue solution was observed in the following order: Undoped-TiO2<Mn-TiO2<Cr-TiO2<Cu-TiO2<Fe-TiO2<Al-TiO2.