Molybdenum-Doped Anatase and Its Extraordinary Photocatalytic Activity in the Degradation of Orange II in the UV and vis Regions

Molybdenum-doped anatase was prepared by thermal hydrolysis of peroxotitanium complex aqueous solutions containing a molybdenum peroxo-complex. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and surface area (BET) and porosity (BJH) determination. Molybdenum doping caused the increase of unit cell constants of anatase and changes in the morphology of particles from spindle-like shapes to the shapes with rectangular or square cross sections. The presence of Mo 5+ /Mo 6+ ion doping in the TiO 2 nanostructure has no significant effect on the transformation of anatase to rutile. In the visible region, the photocatalytic activity is substantially enhanced in the molybdenum concentration of about 1.38%. The photocatalytic activity of doped titania samples was determined by the decomposition of Orange II dye during irradiation at 365 and 400 nm. The titania sample with 1.38% Mo has the highest catalytic activity during the photocatalyzed degradation of Orange II dye in an aqueous suspension in the UV and visible regions.