ENHANCED PHOTO CATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF METHYLENE BLUE DYE UNDER DIRECT SUNLIGHT BY TITANIUM DOPED TIN OXIDE NANO PARTICLES

Abstract

Titanium doped nanosized tin oxide photo catalysts are synthesized for the first time using simple co-precipitation method. The degradation experiment demonstrates the synergistic effect between adsorption and photo catalysis for the removal of methylene blue (MB) under the sun light for irradiation. The prepared photo catalysts are characterized by using X-ray diffraction, SEM and EDAX, UV-Vis Spectra and photo luminescent. The crystallite size is determined from XRD analysis and is found to range from 3.81nm to 18nm. The blue shift in the UV-Vis absorbance spectra confirms the quantum confinement of the samples. The substitution of Sn by Ti in the rutile structure increases the concentration of oxygen vacancies as it enhances the degradation of methylene blue dye under direct sunlight. The maximum photo catalytic removal efficiency of the synthesized samples for methylene blue dye is 95.6% in 45 min.