Microwave-assisted sol-gel synthesis of V-TiO₂ nanocatalyst for wastewater treatment

A microwave (MW)-assisted sol-gel approach was used to create a new vanadium-doped titanium dioxide (VTiO2) nanocatalyst. When compared to synthesized titanium dioxide, the doped V-TiO2 nanocatalyst had higher photocatalytic activity than the synthesized titanium dioxide (TiO2). The doped V-TiO2 absorption edge shifted, increasing the visible-light absorption capability of the nanocatalyst. The optical absorbance of doped V-TiO2 had a lower bandgap energy (Eg) of 2.35 eV than TiO2, which band gap energy was observed as 2.9 eV. In its crystalline form, the doped nanocatalyst inherited morphological and structural compositions that portrayed both anatase and rutile lattice fringes. This study agreed well with the results obtained from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Image from scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transition electron microscope (TEM) morphological characterization depicted a cluster made up of non-uniform spherical aggregate particles with particle sizes of between 15 and 50 nm. The presence of V, Ti, and O constituents in the catalyst is confirmed by an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (SBET) investigation displays a surface area of produced TiO2, as 102.75 m²/g, while V-TiO2 was 113. 83 m²/g. Under visible light irradiation, doped V-TiO2 demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activities. Within the first 15 min, the degradation of a model pollutant (Methylene blue) was achieved. The impact of doping TiO2, demonstrated an increase in V-TiO2 photocatalytic activity, with excellent rates of removal and a well-anticipated decrease energy band gap.