Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical Macro-Mesoporous Anatase by ZrO2 Incorporation

The effect of the addition of zirconia in the photocatalytic behaviour of titania is analysed. In order to increase the ways for reagent and product diffusion in the material, a sol-gel hydrothermal synthesis route using Tween-20 as a directing agent to obtain a hierarchical macro-mesoporous structu...

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Main Authors: M. L. García-Benjume, M. I. Espitia-Cabrera, M. E. Contreras-García
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/609561
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author M. L. García-Benjume
M. I. Espitia-Cabrera
M. E. Contreras-García
author_facet M. L. García-Benjume
M. I. Espitia-Cabrera
M. E. Contreras-García
author_sort M. L. García-Benjume
collection DOAJ
description The effect of the addition of zirconia in the photocatalytic behaviour of titania is analysed. In order to increase the ways for reagent and product diffusion in the material, a sol-gel hydrothermal synthesis route using Tween-20 as a directing agent to obtain a hierarchical macro-mesoporous structure is proposed. Nanostructured macro-mesoporous TiO2/ZrO2 photocatalyst with 0, 10, 20, 30, and 100% mol of ZrO2 were obtained and calcined at different temperatures. The crystalline structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and TEM. The porosity was confirmed by SEM, TEM, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The worm-like mesoporous structure was confirmed by TEM. The specific surface areas obtained by Brunauer-Emmet-Teller method (BET) ranged from 125 to 180 m2/g. The Tween-20 total elimination from the structure by thermal treatment was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Additionally, the photocatalytic effect of the zirconia addition was studied in the methylene blue (MB) degradation reaction, and the best photocatalytic activity was obtained in the sample with 10% mol of ZrO2, degrading up to 92% the MB.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Photoenergy
spelling doaj-art-c370228a60684904a1c747c789e032a12025-02-03T01:09:39ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1110-662X1687-529X2012-01-01201210.1155/2012/609561609561Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical Macro-Mesoporous Anatase by ZrO2 IncorporationM. L. García-Benjume0M. I. Espitia-Cabrera1M. E. Contreras-García2Instituto de Investigaciones Metalúrgicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edificio “U” Ciudad Universitaria, 58060 Morelia, MICH, MexicoFacultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edificio “U” Ciudad Universitaria, 58060 Morelia, MICH, MexicoInstituto de Investigaciones Metalúrgicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edificio “U” Ciudad Universitaria, 58060 Morelia, MICH, MexicoThe effect of the addition of zirconia in the photocatalytic behaviour of titania is analysed. In order to increase the ways for reagent and product diffusion in the material, a sol-gel hydrothermal synthesis route using Tween-20 as a directing agent to obtain a hierarchical macro-mesoporous structure is proposed. Nanostructured macro-mesoporous TiO2/ZrO2 photocatalyst with 0, 10, 20, 30, and 100% mol of ZrO2 were obtained and calcined at different temperatures. The crystalline structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and TEM. The porosity was confirmed by SEM, TEM, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The worm-like mesoporous structure was confirmed by TEM. The specific surface areas obtained by Brunauer-Emmet-Teller method (BET) ranged from 125 to 180 m2/g. The Tween-20 total elimination from the structure by thermal treatment was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Additionally, the photocatalytic effect of the zirconia addition was studied in the methylene blue (MB) degradation reaction, and the best photocatalytic activity was obtained in the sample with 10% mol of ZrO2, degrading up to 92% the MB.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/609561
spellingShingle M. L. García-Benjume
M. I. Espitia-Cabrera
M. E. Contreras-García
Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical Macro-Mesoporous Anatase by ZrO2 Incorporation
International Journal of Photoenergy
title Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical Macro-Mesoporous Anatase by ZrO2 Incorporation
title_full Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical Macro-Mesoporous Anatase by ZrO2 Incorporation
title_fullStr Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical Macro-Mesoporous Anatase by ZrO2 Incorporation
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical Macro-Mesoporous Anatase by ZrO2 Incorporation
title_short Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical Macro-Mesoporous Anatase by ZrO2 Incorporation
title_sort enhanced photocatalytic activity of hierarchical macro mesoporous anatase by zro2 incorporation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/609561
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