Solvothermal synthesis of visible light responsive nitrogen-doped titania nanocrystals

Nitrogen ion-doped titania nanoparticles were obtained by the homogeneous precipitation in hexamethylenetetramine-titanium trichloride mixed solution followed by heat treatment in the solution at desired temperatures. After that the sample powders obtained were calcined in air at desired temperatures. Various phases of titania such as anatase, rutile and brookite were obtained depending on the reaction condition. Crystallite size, specific surface area and color also greatly changed as 5-50 nm, 20--200 m2·g-1 and light gray-yellow, respectively, depending on the solvent, pH, etc. The products after calcination around 400°C were yellow indicating doping with nitrogen ion. Photocatalytic activity for the oxidative decomposition of NO in air atmosphere was also evaluated by using a continuous flow system with 1 ppm NO gas, where the high pressure mercury arcs filtered using various filters were irradiated. All colored titania nanoparticles showed photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation for the oxidative decomposition of nitrogen monoxide in air. Especially, the nanoparticles of anatase type nitrogen-doped titania obtained by the homogeneous precipitation using hexamethylenetetramine-methanol aqueous solution around 200°C showed excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.