Low temperature synthesis of N-doped TiO2 nanocatalysts for photodegradation of methyl orange.

N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using a hydrazine-assisted liquid method at low temperatures, owing to the additional heat provided by the decomposition of hydrazine nitrate, which was formed by reaction of hydrazine with nitric acid. Different crystal phases of N-doped TiO2 were studied by varying the nitric acid concentration, and calcination temperature and time. These photocatalysts were characterized using a transmission electron microscope, UV-vis photometer, X-ray diffractometer, and nitrogen adsorption. Photocatalytic performance of the N-doped TiO2 was studied by testing the degradation of methyl orange under visible irradiation. It was observed that N-doped TiO2 demonstrated much higher photocatalytic performance than commercial TiO2 (P-25) and exhibited excellent reusability.