Abstract
Nitrogen-doped
Ti
O
2
nanoparticles were synthesized via plasma assisted metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Nitrogen dopant concentration was varied from
0
to
1.61
at.
%
. The effect of nitrogen ion doping on visible light photocatalysis has been investigated. Samples were analyzed by various analytical techniques such as x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure. Titanium tetraisopropoxide was used as the titanium precursor, while rf-plasma-decomposed ammonia was used as the source for nitrogen doping. The N-doped
Ti
O
2
nanoparticles were deposited on stainless steel mesh under a flow of Ar and
O
2
gases at
600
°
C
in a tube reactor. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared N-doped
Ti
O
2
samples was tested by the degradation of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) in an aqueous solution using a visible lamp equipped with an UV filter. The efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation of 2-CP was measured using high performance liquid chromatography. Results obtained revealed the formation of N-doped
Ti
O
2
samples as
Ti
O
2
−
x
N
x
, and a corresponding increase in the visible light photocatalytic activity.