Résumé
In this work, physico-chemical properties and photocatalytic activity of three types of dried or dried and calcined TiO2 materials, synthesized by the cogelation method, were studied: (i) a pure TiO2 xerogel; (ii) TiO2 xerogels doped with Ag; (iii) TiO2 xerogels co-doped with Ag and P. The presence of silver nanoparticles was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the oxidation state of silver after calcination was examined by temperature programmed reduction (TPR) measurements. The physico-chemical properties of xerogels were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy (DR UV–Vis) and from nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was quantified for the p-nitrophenol degradation under visible light.
Decrease of the TiO2 band gap by the introduction of Ti-O-P bonds and acting of silver as an electron trap in P- and Ag-doped titania xerogel photocatalysts. [Display omitted]
•Efficient P and Ag-doped TiO2 xerogel photocatalysts.•Highly dispersed metallic silver nanoparticles by the use of EDAP.•Synergetic effects between P and Ag increasing TiO2 photoactivity under visible light.