Study on the photocatalytic activity of TiN/TiO2 nanoparticle formed by ball milling

TiN/TiO₂ nanoparticle photocatalyst was prepared by ball milling of TiO₂ in H₂O solution doped with TiN. The photocatalyst was characterized by UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Based on the results of the characterization, the mechanism of the increase in photocatalytic activity was investigated. The results show that when the amount of doped TiN is 0.15 wt%, the photocatalytic activity of the TiN/TiO₂ is at its peak. Compared with TiO₂, the photoabsorption wavelength range of the TiN/TiO₂ photocatalyst red-shifts about 30 nm, and the photoabsorption intensity increases as well. The photocatalytic activities of the photocatalyst are higher than that of TiO₂ under UV and visible light irradiation. The increase of surface Ti³⁺ reactive center and the extension of the photoabsorption wavelength are the main factors for the increase in the photocatalytic activity of the TiN/TiO₂. Doped TiN neither changes the TiO₂ crystal phase nor creates new crystal phase by ball milling.