Photocatalytic activity of hierarchical CTAB-assisted TiO2 nanoparticles for polluted water treatment using solar light illumination

Abstract

A solvothermal method was used to make titanium (TiO2) nanoparticles templated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), optical studies (UV-Vis DRS), and energy-dispersive spectrum (EDS) were used to characterise these prepared anatase phases titania particles (EDS). The results of the calculated mean crystalline sizes using XRD and TEM analysis showed that the nanomolecule range 5-15 nm is in good agreement. Photocatalytic studies on CTAB-assisted TiO2 nanoparticles were also carried out, and the results revealed that the CTAB-assisted TiO2 nanoparticles had higher efficiencies than the other metal oxide. The decomposition was achieved to be nearly 95% at about 180 min of time for Congo red dye solution with the addition of titania catalyst and H2O2 in neutral medium. The results obtained from photocatalytic studies confirmed the stability and reusability of the TiO2 photocatalyst for several practical applications.