Doping and Photocatalytic Performance of TiO2 Nanopowder: An Inorganic Comprehensive Experiment for Boling Class

Abstract

An experiment “Doping and Photocatalytic Performance of TiO2 Nanopowder” was performed in inorganic comprehensive laboratory for Boling Class of Nankai University. After the dopant precursors and corresponding contents were determined by the students, different elements doped TiO2 powders were prepared by sol-gel method, and characterized by scanning electronic microscopy, transmittance electronic microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performances of the prepared catalysts were monitored by the degradation of methyl orange as the simulated wastewater to select the superior ones for photocatalytic water splitting test. Through this comprehensive experiment related to research frontier, the students in Boling Class can obtain basic research training and their scientific literacy can be improved.