Tuning the band gap of mesoporous Zr-doped TiO2 for effective degradation of pesticide quinalphos.

This paper has focused on the synthesis and modification of TiO2 nanomaterial via an acid modified sol-gel process. ZrOCl2 was used as a source of Zr for doping titania. The nanomaterials were characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, etc. Changes in the band gap of the synthesized nanomaterials were studied with respect to the dopant amount, and the performance of the synthesized nanomaterials was evaluated as a photocatalyst to degrade pesticide quinalphos in aqueous solution under UV light. Anatase TiO2 nanocrystallites with an average size of ca. 8-11 nm were obtained depending on the amount of dopant. The results showed that the amount of dopant significantly altered the band gap as well as the surface properties of the hybrid nanomaterials which resulted in high photocatalytic activity.