Abstract

ABSTRACT In the present study, zirconium and cerium co-doped mesoporous TiO 2 photocatalysts were prepared by sol–gel technique using Pluronic P123 as the structure-directing agent. The prepared catalytic materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, N 2 sorption studies, diffuse reflectance UV-vis absorption spectroscopic analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Zirconium and cerium co-doping on TiO 2 induces visible-light absorption and decreases the bandgap energy. Zirconium and cerium co-doped mesoporous titania exhibit a high surface area with a large pore diameter. The photocatalytic activity has been evaluated for the photodegradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol under visible light illumination. The optimum loading of Zr 4+ and Ce 4+ to TiO 2 was found to be 0.5 wt.%. Ce 4+ and Zr 4+ active sites are good electron scavengers, which can easily trap the excited electrons and shift the electrons to the adsorbed oxygen molecules and therefore efficiently extending the lifetime of the electron-hole pair. Moreover, Zr 4+ /Ce 4+ -TiO 2 showed excellent photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol under visible light irradiation due to the formation of a large quantity of • OH and O 2 –• radicals. Keywords: Nanomaterials; Mesoporous; Zr 4+ /Ce 4+ -TiO 2 ; Photocatalytic degradation; 2,4-dinitrophenol

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