Abstract
Photocatalysis utilizing titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysts doped with metal/non-metal has shown great potential in degradation of recalcitrant pollutant like Diclofenac sodium (DCLF). DCLF is one of the most detected pharmaceuticals in water matrices. In this study, a straight-forward sol–gel method for synthesis of cerium (Ce)-doped and boron (B)–Ce co-doped TiO2 photocatalysts has been used. By adjusting the ratio of Ce and B in TiO2 in the prepared photocatalysts, the optimum dopants’ concentration was selected and the photocatalytic characteristics of the prepared materials were investigated. The prepared photocatalysts were thoroughly characterized using common physiochemical methods, such X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), physisorption (BET), and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), in order to know more about the structure. Structure and elemental mapping analyses proved the presence of Ce and B in the TiO2 containing anatase phase with a tetragonal structure. The optical properties using a UV–Vis DRS showed a reduction in the bandgap upon Ce/B co-doping. The photocatalytic results obtained showed that Ce–B-doped TiO2 outperforms undoped TiO2 and Ce-doped TiO2.
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The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and its Supplementary Information files. Should any raw data files be needed in another format they are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Vandana Yadav expresses her gratitude to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India for the doctoral grant (NFO-2015-17-OBC-UTT-29056).
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Yadav, V., Sharma, H., Singh, R.K. et al. Cerium and boron co-doping in TiO2 boosts diclofenac photodegradation. Appl Nanosci 13, 5903–5919 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-023-02845-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-023-02845-y