Visible-Light-Induced Photodegradation of Methylene Blue Using Mn,N-codoped ZrTiO4 as Photocatalyst

Composites of manganese and nitrogen-codoped zirconium titanate (Mn,N-codoped ZrTiO4) had been synthesized by the sol-gel method as a visible-light responsive photocatalyst for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB). Synthesis was conducted at 25 & DEG;C using titanium(IV) isopropoxide, zirconium oxide, urea, and manganese(II) chloride. Mn,N-codoped ZrTiO4 containing fixed 10% nitrogen dopant (wN/wTi) with various Mn dopant contents (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% wMn/wTi) and calcination temperatures (500, 700, and 900 & DEG;C) had been investigated. All of the Mn,N-codoped ZrTiO4 exhibit a band gap within the visible range (2.51 to 2.74 eV). Photodegradation of MB was performed under visible light illumination for 120 min. The highest activity was achieved up to 7.7 & mu;g L-1 min-1, which was obtained from Mn,N-codoped ZrTiO4 calcined at 500 & DEG;C containing 6% Mn and 10% N dopants.