Highly-accessible, doped TiO2 nanoparticles embedded at the surface of SiO2 as photocatalysts for the degradation of pollutants under visible and UV radiation

A series of photocatalysts consisting C- and N-doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles highly dispersed firmly embedded at the surface a silica matrix were prepared using novel synthesis method in which activated carbon has double role: it acts as support for depositing TiO2 hard template generating that embeds them. Additionally, use combination with ammonia during led to nitrogen doping domains, enhanced their absorption radiation visible range. The these features higher activity (i.e. removal % TON) photocatalytic degradation probe pollutants (phenol rhodamine B) compared benchmark P25 under UV and, even more markedly, radiation. Particularly, photocatalyst 10 wt% (10%TiO2NP@SiO2) displayed much TON values (a 12 times B, an 8 phenol). are also significantly any previously reported TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst. TiO2NP@SiO2 can be effectively reused consecutive runs. materials was correlated physicochemical properties by means thorough characterisation techniques (XRD, ICP-OES, N2 physisorption, TEM, UV–vis, FT-IR XPS).