Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Facile synthesis of Mn/N-doped TiO2 on wood-based activated carbon fiber as an efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst

  • Energy materials
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The exploration of highly efficient and stable visible-light-driven photocatalysts for wastewater treatment has been recognized as one of the most challenging topics in environmental remediation. In this study, we report a new type of Mn/N co-doped TiO2 supported on wood-based activated carbon fiber (Mn–N/TiO2-WACF) composite material that can be synthesized via sol–gel method. XRD indicates that the nano-TiO2 particles in the composites are in the anatase phase (except when calcined at 850 °C) and the average crystallite size is approximately 23–33 nm. Doping with Mn and N significantly inhibits the crystal phase transformation of TiO2 from anatase to rutile. Photocatalytic experiments confirm that the Mn–N/TiO2-WACF catalysts are highly efficient and robust for the photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). Mn–N/TiO2-WACF exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity (reaches 99%) after calcined at 550 °C. The introduction of Mn and N not only improves the light adsorption and redox activity of TiO2, but also promotes photochemical stability because of narrow band gap energy and lower recombination rate of photoinduced electron–hole pairs. Composite photocatalysts such as these materials are important in the ongoing effort to design and explore new low cost, high efficiency, robust photocatalytic materials.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Divya N, Bansal A, Jana AK (2013) Nano-photocatalysts in the treatment of colored wastewater. Mater Sci Forum 734:349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Reddy PAK, Reddy PVL, Kim KH, Kumar MK, Manvitha C (2017) Novel approach for the synthesis of nitrogen-doped titania with variable phase composition and enhanced production of hydrogen under solar irradiation. J Ind Eng Chem 53:253–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Sreethawong T, Junbua C, Chavadeja S (2009) Photocatalytic H2 production from water splitting under visible light irradiation using Eosin Y-sensitized mesoporous-assembled Pt/TiO2 nanocrystal photocatalyst. J Power Sources 190:513–524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Qi XH, Zhuang YY, Yuan YC, Gu WX (2001) Decomposition of aniline in supercritical water. J Hazard Mater 90:51–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Touati A, Hammedi T, Najjar W, Sayadi S, Ksibi Z (2016) Photocatalytic degradation of textile wastewater in presence of hydrogen peroxide: effect of cerium doping titania. J Ind Eng Chem 35:36–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Liu XY, Ma XJ, Zhu LZ, Li DN (2015) Photocatalysis, microstructure, and surface characterization of TiO2-loaded wooden-activated carbon fibers. Polym Compos 36:62–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Li SG, Guo YW, Zhang L, Wang J, Li Y (2014) Visible-light photocatalytic activity of Pt supported TiO2 combined with up-conversion luminescence agent (Er3+:Y3Al5O12) for hydrogen production from aqueous methanol solution. J Power Sources 252:21–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhou J, Zhu BB, Wang L (2017) Enhanced photocatalytic activity of Fe-doped TiO2 coated on N-doped activated carbon composites for photocatalytic degradation of dyeing wastewater. In: International conference on materials science

  9. Yang HM, Park SJ (2017) A study on photocatalytic behaviors of activated carbon fibers impregnated with n-doped titania. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 17:7593–7597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Pham TD, Lee BK (2017) Novel capture and photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into solar fuels by metals co-doped TiO2 deposited on PU under visible light. Appl Catal A 529:40–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang C, Hu Q, Huang J, Wu L, Deng Z, Liu Z, Liu Y, Cao Y (2013) Efficient hydrogen production by photocatalytic water splitting using N-doped TiO2 film. Appl Surf Sci 283:188–192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Appavu B, Kannan K, Thiripuranthagan S (2016) Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activities of template free mesoporous nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide/titania composite catalysts. J Ind Eng Chem 36:184–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Tang J, Wang J, Shrestha LK, Hossain MSA, Alothman ZA (2017) Activated porous carbon spheres with customized mesopores through assembly of diblock copolymers for electrochemical capacitor. ACS Appl Mater Interface 9:18986–18993

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Huang YX, Peng LL, Liu Y, Zhao G, Chen JY (2016) Biobased nano porous active carbon fibers for high-performance supercapacitors. ACS Appl Mater Interface 8:15205–15215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Huang YX, Liu Y, Zhao GJ, Chen JY (2017) Sustainable activated carbon fiber from sawdust by reactivation for high-performance supercapacitors. J Mater Sci 52:478–488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0347-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Yu XY, Wang SH, Zhang J (2017) Preparation of high adsorption performance activated carbon by pyrolysis of waste polyester fabric. J Mater Sci 53:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1928-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Li DN, Ma XJ (2014) Preparation and photocatalystic property of nano-TiO2 loaded activated carbon fibers from liquefied wood. Wood Res Slovak 59:77–84

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Yang JB, Mi HW, Luo S, Li YL, Zhang PX, Sun LN, Ren XZ (2017) Atomic layer deposition of TiO2 on nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers supported Ru nanoparticles for flexible LiO2 battery: a combined DFT and experimental study. J Power Sources 368:88–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Hu ZH, Xu T, Fang BW (2017) Photocatalytic degradation of vehicle exhaust using Fe-dopedTiO2 loaded on activated carbon. Appl Surf Sci 420:34–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Chen J, Qin YF, Chen ZH, Yang Z, Yang WB, Wang YP (2016) Gas circulating fluidized beds photocatalytic regeneration of I-TiO2 modified activated carbons saturated with toluene. Chem Eng J 293:281–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ma XJ, Zhou WR, Chen Y (2017) Structure and photocatalytic properties of Mn-doped TiO2 loaded on wood-based activated carbon fiber composites. Materials 10:631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Li DN, Ma XJ, Liu XY, Yu LL (2013) Preparation and characterization of nano-TiO2 loaded bamboo-based activated carbon fibers by H2O activation. BioResources 9:602–612

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ma XJ, Zhao GJ (2011) Variations in the microstructure of carbon fibers prepared from liquefied wood during carbonization. J Appl Polym Sci 121:3525–3530

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Li DN, Ma XJ (2013) Preparation and characterization of activated carbon fibers from liquefied wood. Cellulose 20:1649–1656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ma XJ, Zhang F, Wei LQ (2015) Effect of wood charcoal contents on the adsorption property, structure, and morphology of mesoporous activated carbon fibers derived from wood liquefaction process. J Mater Sci 50:1908–1914. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8754-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Hanaor DAH, Sorrell CC (2011) Review of the anatase to rutile phase transformation. J Mater Sci 46:855. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-010-5113-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Gu Y, Huang J (2013) Precise size control over ultrafine rutile titania nanocrystallites in hierarchical nanotubular silica/titania hybrids with efficient photocatalytic activity. Chemistry 19:10971–10981

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Bourgeois S, Seigneur PL, Perdereau M (1995) Study by XPS of ultra-thin nickel deposits on TiO2 (100) supports with different stoichiometries. Surf Sci 328:105–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Wahid M, Parte G, Phase D, Ogale S (2015) Yogurt: a novel precursor for heavily nitrogen doped supercapacitor carbon. J Mater Chem A 3:1208–1215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Chiang YC, Chen YJ, Wu CY (2017) Effect of relative humidity on adsorption breakthrough of CO2 on activated carbon fibers. Materials 10:1296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Yang S, Lin Y, Song X, Zhang P, Gao L (2015) Covalently coupled ultrafine H-TiO2 nanocrystals/nitrogen-doped graphene hybrid materials for high-performance supercapacitor. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 7:17884–17892

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Li Y, Wang Z, Lv XJ (2014) N-doped TiO2 nanotubes/N-doped graphene nanosheets composites as high performance anode materials in lithium-ion battery. J Mater Chem A 2:15473–15749

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Huang W, Tang X, Wang Y, Koltypin Y, Gedanken A (2000) Selective synthesis of anatase and rutile via ultrasound irradiation. Chem Commun 15:1415–1416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Yu J, Ma T, Liu S (2011) Enhanced photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 aggregates by embedding carbon nanotubes as electon-transfer channel. Phys Chem Chem Phys 13:3491–3501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Choi S, Kim S, Lim S, Park H (2010) Photocatalytic comparison of TiO2 nanoparticles and electrospun TiO2 nanofibers: effect of mesoporosity and interparticle charge transfer. J Phys Chem C 114:16475–16480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Seadira TWP, Sadanandam G, Ntho T, Masuku CM, Scurrell MS (2018) Preparation and characterization of metals supported on nanostructured TiO2 hollow spheres for production of hydrogen via photocatalytic reforming of glycerol. App Catal B Environ 222:133–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The research was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of PR China (No. 31270607); Tianjin City Education Commission Research Fund Planning Project (Natural Science) (No. 2017KJ032); and Opening Project Fund of Key Laboratory of Rubber Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture/State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Cultivation & Physiology for Tropical Crops/Danzhou Investigation & Experiment Station of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture (RRI-KLOF201801).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaojun Ma.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, D., Chen, Y., Yin, F. et al. Facile synthesis of Mn/N-doped TiO2 on wood-based activated carbon fiber as an efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst. J Mater Sci 53, 11671–11683 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2429-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2429-7

Keywords

Navigation