Characterization of paramagnetic species in N-doped TiO2 powders by EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are combined for the first time in an effort to characterize the paramagnetic species present in N-doped anatase TiO2 powders obtained by sol-gel synthesis. The experimental hyperfine coupling constants are well reproduced by two structurally different nitrogen impurities: substitutional and interstitial N atoms in the TiO2 anatase matrix. DFT calculations show that the nitrogen impurities induce the formation of localized states in the band gap. Substitutional nitrogen states lie just above the valence band, while interstitial nitrogen states lie higher in the gap. Excitations from these localized states to the conduction band may account for the absorption edge shift toward lower energies (visible region) observed in the case of N-doped TiO2 with respect to pure TiO2 (UV region). Calculations also show that nitrogen doping leads to a substantial reduction of the energy cost to form oxygen vacancies in bulk TiO2. This suggests that nitrogen doping is likely to be accompanied by oxygen vacancy formation. Finally, we propose that the relative abundance of the two observed nitrogen-doping species depends on the preparation conditions, such as the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere and the annealing temperature during synthesis.     

阴离子掺杂TiO2的芯位移和热力学性质的第一性原理研究

采用第一性原理计算考察了阴离子(硼、碳、氮、氟、磷、硫)掺杂的二氧化钛(包括锐钛矿相和金红石相)。芯位移计算结果表明,在氮掺杂的TiO2中,间隙掺杂类型的N的1s能级在XPS能谱上峰的位置要比替代掺杂的能级高,类似的结果也在硼、碳、磷和硫掺杂的TiO2上发现。然而对于F掺杂的TiO2,替代掺杂的峰位置比间隙掺杂的高,且与TiO2的晶相无关。还对阴离子掺杂的TiO2进行了热力学研究。结果表明,替换掺杂的形成焓高于间隙掺杂的,因此替代掺杂的TiO2的制备需要苛刻的条件,而间隙掺杂TiO2的制备只需温和的湿化学条件。     

N doping of TiO2(110): photoemission and density-functional studies

The electronic properties of N-doped rutile TiO2(110) have been investigated using synchrotron-based photoemission and density-functional calculations. The doping via N2+ ion bombardment leads to the implantation of N atoms (approximately 5% saturation concentration) that coexist with O vacancies. Ti 2p core level spectra show the formation of Ti3+ and a second partially reduced Ti species with oxidation states between +4 and +3. The valence region of the TiO(2-x)N(y)(110) systems exhibits a broad peak for Ti3+ near the Fermi level and N-induced features above the O 2p valence band that shift the edge up by approximately 0.5 eV. The magnitude of this shift is consistent with the "redshift" observed in the ultraviolet spectrum of N-doped TiO2. The experimental and theoretical results show the existence of attractive interactions between the dopant and O vacancies. First, the presence of N embedded in the surface layer reduces the formation energy of O vacancies. Second, the existence of O vacancies stabilizes the N impurities with respect to N2(g) formation. When oxygen vacancies and N impurities are together there is an electron transfer from the higher energy 3d band of Ti3+ to the lower energy 2p band of the N(2-) impurities.     

Electronic structure,photocatalytic properties and phonon dispersions of X-doped (X = N,B and Pt) rutile TiO2 from density functional theory

First principles calculations were performed on the electronic, vibrational and Raman spectra of substitutional N-, B- and Pt-doped rutile titanium dioxide (TiO₂), within the density functional theory (DFT), using the plane-wave pseudopotential method. From the calculated electronic band structure and density of states we concluded that the doping induces significant changes in the band structure of TiO₂, highlighting B- and Pt-doped TiO₂ as the best candidates for photocatalytic materials for visible light absorption. On the other hand, N-doped TiO₂ appears to be active only for the photoreduction processes, although N doping introduces midstates into the band gap. Only N-doped TiO₂ proved to have stable phonon dispersions and showed interesting band doubling.     

Role of complex defects in photocatalytic activities of nitrogen-doped anatase TiO(2)

Deep impurity states associated with a substitutional nitrogen at an oxygen site (N(O)) are believed to be the source of the visible-light absorption of nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (TiO(2)). Our comprehensive study using density functional theory (DFT) plus onsite Coulomb interaction (U) reveals that a titanium atom at an interstitial site (Ti(i)) is highly mobile and strongly binds with N(O). Hybridizations of N p with Ti d states of Ti(i) give rise to a new band at the valence band edge, eliminating the hole-trapping centers originated from the deep N(O) states. The suggested mechanism explains the photocatalytic oxidation reactions as well as the visible-light absorption observed on N-doped anatase TiO(2).     

TiO2-yNx纳米光催化剂的制备及其可见光响应机理

利用溶胶-凝胶技术,以尿素为氮源,采用原位掺杂方式制备了TiO2-yNx纳米粉体;以亚甲基蓝(MB)溶液在可见光下的光催化降解评价其可见光催化活性;考察了体系初始pH值、N的掺杂量和焙烧温度对样品可见光催化活性的影响。 结合XRD、XPS、ESR和DRS测试技术,研究了N掺杂纳米TiO2的可见光响应机理。 研究结果表明,TiO2-yNx纳米粉体的优化制备工艺条件为：体系初始pH=0.52,掺杂比n(N)∶n(Ti)=1∶6,焙烧温度为440 ℃。 此条件下制备的样品N含量为0.77%,为单一的锐钛矿相,平均粒径为19.0 nm,具有良好的可见光催化活性。 N掺杂导致TiO2纳米粉体的表面羟基含量增加,形成了大量束缚单电子的氧空位;N取代晶格O形成了N-Ti-O和O-N-Ti键合结构。 N掺杂导致TiO2纳米粒子的吸收带边红移,对可见光的吸收能力明显增强,这表明N掺杂改变TiO2电子结构,使带隙窄化,降低光响应阈值。 N掺杂TiO2纳米粒子的可见光响应归因于N取代掺杂形成的掺杂能级与氧空位形成的缺陷能级共同作用所致。     

形态结构和光电特性对纳米TiO2光催化性能的影响

采用sol-gel法制备了系列纳米TiO2光催化剂,运用X射线衍射、BET比表面测定、紫外漫反射吸收光谱和表面光电压谱等手段对催化剂进行表征,并以乙烯作为光催化反应的指标反应分子,研究了TiO2纳米晶的性质对于光催化活性的影响.随着焙烧温度的升高,TiO2的晶粒逐渐增大,比表面积下降,晶相由锐钛矿向金红石转变,其吸收带边与光伏响应阈值向长波方向移动,氧化－还原能力降低,降解乙烯的转化率迅速下降.     

A Density Functional Study of N-Doped TiO2 Anatase Cluster

A systematic study on geometry, electronic structure and vibrational properties of N-doped TiO2 anatase cluster, within the framework of the density functional theory, has been performed in this work. The calculations confirmed that the most structures in substitutional model consist of a two-coordinate bridge structure and a three-coordinate hollow structure. The calculated results can well explain the red shift in N-doped TiO2 observed in experiments. The study provides an illustration for the N-doped anatase from the viewpoint of chemical bonding theory.     

二氧化钛基固体超强酸的结构及其光催化氧化性能

采用溶胶－凝胶法制备了多孔性,大比表面积的ＳＯ４＾２－／ＴｉＯ２固体超强催化剂,运用ＸＲＤ,ＢＥＴ比表面积测定,ＸＰＳ和ＵＶ－Ｖｉｓ反射光谱等技术对该催化剂的结构,表面状态以及半导体特征进行了表征,并通过ＣＨ３Ｂｒ,Ｃ６Ｈ６和Ｃ２Ｈ４等典型有机物的气相光催化氧化反应。     

均相水解法制备金红石含量可控的纳米TiO2

用均相水解法通过调节对甲苯磺酸的添加量制备了金红石含量线性可控的纳米TiO2粒子,相同条件下,没有加入对甲苯磺酸时,制备的TiO02颗粒为纯锐钛矿晶型．制备的纳米TiO2颗粒,其单晶尺寸为19．5mm(金红石),13．5mm(锐钛矿),比表面积72．7m^2／g,通过公式计算得到了制备的TiO2纳米颗粒带隙能为2．83eV,比P25和纯锐钛矿纳米TiO2颗粒的带隙能均低．     

The role of crystal phase in determining photocatalytic activity of nitrogen doped TiO2

Two series of nitrogen doped TiO(2) samples with different ratios of anatase to rutile phases were prepared by milling the mixture of P25 TiO(2) and C(6)H(12)N(4) in air and gaseous NH(3) atmosphere, respectively. Compared to air, NH(3) atmosphere plays an important role in delaying the crystallite transformation from anatase to rutile in the mechanochemical reaction of TiO(2) and C(6)H(12)N(4). In contrast to the previously reported results for pure TiO(2), it is found that nitrogen doped TiO(2) with higher content of rutile phase demonstrates higher photocatalytic activity in photodegrading pollutant Rhodamine B under both UV light and visible light irradiation (lambda>420 nm), and the amount of the surface-adsorbed water and hydroxyl groups on nitrogen doped TiO(2) have little correlations with their crystallite phases (anatase or rutile) and photocatalytic activity. The more abundant surface states characterized by photoluminescence spectroscopy together with the lowered valence band maximum of rutile TiO(2) by nitrogen doping are considered as the key factors for the higher activity of nitrogen doped TiO(2) with higher content of rutile phase.     

Electron spin resonance spin-trapping detection of radical intermediates in N-doped TiO2-assisted photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol

The electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide as the spin-trap reagent has been applied to detect free radical intermediates generated during in situ ultraviolet or visible irradiation of aqueous 4-chlorphenol (4-CP)/N-doped TiO(2) suspensions. ESR measurements gave the first direct evidence that the active species ((*)OH and O(2*-)) are responsible for the photodecomposition of 4-CP over N-doped TiO(2) under visible-light irradiation, strongly suggesting that the photocatalytic reaction of organic compounds in powdered N-doped TiO(2) systems proceed via surface intermediates of oxygen reduction or water oxidation, not via direct reaction with holes trapped at the N-induced midgap level. These results have important implications for the evaluation of the oxidative powder of TiO(2-x)N(x) catalysts.     

具可见光活性的氮掺杂二氧化钛光催化剂

以氮掺杂为代表的非金属掺杂型TiO₂光催化剂被誉为“第二代光催化材料”。本文首先系统评述了氮掺杂二氧化钛的制备方法，然后详细阐述了在N掺杂TiO₂研究中关于其可见光活性机制以及掺杂N在TiO₂晶格中的存在状态等方面的争议。N掺杂TiO₂粉末的制备方法主要有氨气气氛下的热处理工艺、水解沉淀法、溶胶－凝胶法以及机械化学法等；N掺杂TiO₂薄膜的制备方法主要包括磁控溅射法、脉冲激光沉积法以及金属有机化学气相沉积法等。已提出的关于N掺杂TiO₂可见光活性机制的观点有N2P与O2P能级相杂化、形成N 2p孤立能态、氧空位的作用以及具顺磁性特征的杂质敏化。关于掺杂N在TiO₂晶格中存在状态的分歧在于XPS N 1s谱中特征峰的位置及其归属的解析。文章最后指出了氮掺杂二氧化钛催化剂研究中有待解决的问题及今后的发展方向。     

Fe、N共掺杂TiO2纳米管阵列的制备及可见光光催化活性

应用电化学阳极氧化法结合浸渍和退火后处理制备了Fe和N共掺杂的TiO2纳米管阵列光催化剂,并用场发射扫描电镜(FESEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和俄歇电子能谱(AES)仪对其进行了表征.结果表明,Fe、N共掺杂对TiO2纳米管阵列的形貌和结构没有明显影响,Fe和N均掺入了TiO2晶格.紫外-可见(UV-Vis)漫反射光谱显示Fe和N共掺杂TiO2纳米管阵列的吸收带边较纯TiO2纳米管阵列和单一掺杂TiO2纳米管阵列红移,可见光吸收增强.以可见光催化降解罗丹明B(RhB)考察了材料的光催化活性,Fe和N共掺杂TiO2纳米管阵列对RhB的降解速率较纯TiO2纳米管阵列和单一掺杂TiO2纳米管阵列明显提高,证明了Fe、N共掺杂产生的协同效应提高了TiO2纳米管阵列在可见光照射下的光催化活性.     

氮掺杂二氧化钛粉体的制备及掺杂机理研究

以钛酸四丁酯为钛源,尿素为氮源制备了N掺杂二氧化钛粉体。采用X射线衍射、透射电镜和紫外-可见吸收光谱对粉体晶粒尺寸、物相及光吸收性质进行了表征。结果表明,N掺杂有效抑制了二氧化钛晶粒的长大,并使TiO₂光吸收效果大大提高。采用密度泛函方法对掺杂机理进行研究证明,N掺杂有效减小了TiO₂带隙宽度,使吸收谱红移,相比替位氮掺杂,间隙氮掺杂更有利于提高光吸收效率。     

氮掺杂二氧化钛粉体的制备及掺杂机理研究

以钛酸四丁酯为钛源,尿素为氮源制备了N掺杂二氧化钛粉体。采用X射线衍射、透射电镜和紫外-可见吸收光谱对粉体晶粒尺寸、物相及光吸收性质进行了表征。结果表明,N掺杂有效抑制了二氧化钛晶粒的长大,并使TiO2光吸收效果大大提高。采用密度泛函方法对掺杂机理进行研究证明,N掺杂有效减小了TiO2带隙宽度,使吸收谱红移,相比替位氮掺杂,间隙氮掺杂更有利于提高光吸收效率。     

NH3处理温度对N掺杂P25-TiO2的可见光催化活性的影响

研究了NH3处理温度对N掺杂P25-TiO2可见光催化活性的影响以及可见光催化活性与表面组成和结构的关系．实验结果表明：NH3处理温度在600℃时,有最高活性;在700℃,P25-TiO2转变为以金红石相为主,表面未发生N掺杂,这与700℃时NH3分解有关;N掺杂浓度、可见光吸收两者与可见光催化活性之间均不存在顺变关系．讨论揭示：N掺杂P25-TiO2的可见光催化活性是由三个要素协同作用产生：（i）表面生成大量束缚单电子氧空位（Vo）,（ii）表面有N掺入,（iii）晶型以锐态矿为主,三者缺一不可．     

金红石/锐钛矿混晶结构的TiO2薄膜光催化活性

采用磁控溅射法制备出一组金红石/锐钛矿混晶结构的纳米TiO2薄膜催化剂,并通过光催化降解苯酚实验考察该薄膜的催化性能. 光催化实验证明, 随着催化剂中金红石含量减少, 催化剂的光催化活性逐渐提高. X射线衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、表面光电压谱(SPS)和原子力显微镜(AFM)结果表明, 催化剂为金红石和锐钛矿混晶结构, 并随着金红石含量减少, 催化剂的表面羟基(OH)和桥氧(—O—)的含量逐渐增加, 而且费米能级逐渐提高. 表面羟基和桥氧是有利于光催化的“活性物种”; 费米能级的提高使TiO2/H2O 面处TiO2的表面带弯增大, 导致了价带光生空穴参加光催化反应的几率增大, 有效地促进了光生载流子的分离; 这些因素是催化剂光催化活性逐渐提高的主要原因.     

Hierarchical N-doped TiO2 hollow microspheres consisting of nanothorns with exposed anatase {101} facets

A green solvothermal synthesis approach employing water as a hollowing controller and diethylenetriamine as both crystal growth stabilizer and N dopant source to the preparation of hierarchical N-doped TiO(2) hollow microspheres comprised of nanothorns with exposed anatase {101} facets is established. The superstructured TiO(2) shows excellent photocatalytic activities in degrading dyes under visible light irradiation.     

A simple route for the preparation of Eu, N-codoped TiO2 nanoparticles with enhanced visible light-induced photocatalytic activity

A simple route has been developed for the synthesis of europium, nitrogen-codoped titania photocatalysts under mild conditions (i.e., low temperature, < or = 348 K, and ambient pressure). The as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) analyses. The results showed that the codoped photocatalyst with a spheroidal shape exhibited a smaller size than the undoped titania. The transformation from anatase to rutile was suppressed by doping with Eu and N atoms. Furthermore, the absorbance spectra of Eu, N-codoped TiO(2) exhibited a significant red shift to the visible region. The photocatalytic activity of Eu, N-codoped TiO(2) was evaluated by photodegradation of the dye reactive brilliant red X-3B under visible light. This codoped sample exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to N-doped TiO(2), pure TiO(2), and P25.