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Sol-gel synthesized porous Yb-K2Ti6O13(n) for photocatalytic degradation of azophloxine: effect of polyethylene glycol chain length

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Abstract

A sol-gel method was applied to prepare the porous ytterbium-doped potassium titanate. The materials were obtained by changing the chain length of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the precursor. The PEG in the sol might be beneficial for the growth of K2Ti6O13 crystals, but the PEG did not lead to any phase transformation. The pores in the Yb-K2Ti6O13(n) samples became larger with a rising PEG chain length, and the particles also became larger. The largest BET surface area (26.79 m2/g) and pore volume (0.0465 cm3/g) were obtained for the Yb-K2Ti6O13(2000). The largest number of hydroxyl radicals were generated by the Yb-K2Ti6O13(2000) that had the strongest photocatalytic activity, and a total of 87.6% of azophloxine was degraded in 30 min of irradiation. The photocatalytic reaction caused the degradation of the organic groups in the dye. The degradation efficiency in the first cycle was determined to be 87.7% in the solution using the Yb-K2Ti6O13(2000), and the degradation efficiency was 64.1% in the fifth cycle.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

  • A sol-gel method was applied to prepare the porous ytterbium-doped potassium titanate.

  • PEG chain length could greatly influence the porous structure and particle size of the Yb-K2Ti6O13(n) samples.

  • The pores in the Yb-K2Ti6O13(n) samples became larger with a rising PEG chain length.

  • The largest BET surface area and pore volume were obtained for the Yb-K2Ti6O13(2000).

  • The largest number of hydroxyl radicals were generated by the Yb-K2Ti6O13(2000).

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Applied Basic Research Program of Liaoning Province (2023JH2/101300021), and Scientific Research Fund of Liaoning Provincial Education Department (LJKMZ20220594).

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  1. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang Ligong University, Shenyang, 110159, China

    Yi Zhao, Wenjie Zhang & Zhao Lv

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  1. Yi Zhao
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  2. Wenjie Zhang
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  3. Zhao Lv
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Yi Zhao and Wenjie Zhang wrote the main manuscript text and Zhao Lv prepared figures. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Wenjie Zhang.

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Zhao, Y., Zhang, W. & Lv, Z. Sol-gel synthesized porous Yb-K2Ti6O13(n) for photocatalytic degradation of azophloxine: effect of polyethylene glycol chain length. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-024-06412-x

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