Abstract
Dye wastewater is a major source of toxic aromatic amines released into the environment. Semiconductor photocatalysis is a clean, solar-driven process for the treatment of dye wastewater. To enhance applicability of semiconductor photocatalysis, the catalyst used should be visible light active. Here we report a facile synthesis of a highly visible-light-active nitrogen-doped tungsten oxide, N-WO3, by thermal decomposition of peroxotungstic acid–urea complex. The structure and properties of N-WO3 are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy. The photodegradation of amaranth catalyzed by N-WO3 is evaluated in a batch system under visible and ultraviolet A (UVA) light. Our results show successful doping of N in both interstitial and substitutional sites and the presence of N2-like species. The N doping surprisingly expands the usable portion of the solar spectrum up to the near-infrared region and enhances the photocatalytic activity. At typical experimental conditions such as 25 mg/L of amaranth, 1 g/L of N-WO3, and pH 7, 100 % degradation of amaranth is achieved within 2 h under both visible and UVA light. The photocatalytic activity of N-WO3 is maintained in repeated cycles, indicating its exceptional photostability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a reusable, highly visible-light-active N-WO3 can be obtained through thermal decomposition of peroxotungstic acid–urea complex.
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Sudrajat, H., Babel, S. Rapid photocatalytic degradation of the recalcitrant dye amaranth by highly active N-WO3 . Environ Chem Lett 14, 243–249 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-015-0538-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-015-0538-y