Synthesis and investigation of properties of photocatalysts based on clay containing titanium dioxide doped with gold, silver and palladium in order to remove aromatic and toxic azo dyes under ultraviolet and visible light

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Converging Sciences and Technologies, Department of Physics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Physics, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Science, Arak University of Technology, Arak, Iran

Abstract

In recent years, the development of efficient photocatalysts for the degradation of hazardous pollutants has gained significant attention. This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of novel photocatalysts based on clay-supported titanium dioxide (TiO2) doped with noble metals such as gold (Au), silver (Ag), and palladium (Pd). The photocatalysts were designed for the effective removal of aromatic and toxic azo dyes under both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. The synthesis process involves the incorporation of TiO2 onto clay surfaces, enhancing its photocatalytic activity. The introduction of Au, Ag, and Pd nanoparticles further enhances the catalytic performance, extending the range of light absorption to the visible spectrum. The resulting nanocomposites were thoroughly characterized using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), to elucidate their structural and morphological properties. Photocatalytic experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the synthesized nanocomposites in the degradation of aromatic and toxic azo dyes.

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