Study the Photocatalytic Behavior of TiO2 Nanoparticles Doped with Ni Synthesized by Sol-Gel Method

ABSTRACT Nanocrystalline anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) doped with nickel ions (5 wt. %) was synthesized by sol gel method and was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and Uv-visible spectrophotometer. The results indicated that the introduction of Ni expanded light absorption of TiO2 to visible region, increased amount of surface hydroxyl groups and physically adsorbed oxygen, and then enhanced separation rate of photogenerated carriers. The photodegradation test of methyl orange (MO) under solar light indicated that Ni doped TiO2 nanoparticles have better photocatalytic activities, as compared to those of TiO2. Keywords: Photocatalysis, sol gel, TiO2, Methy Orange