Facile synthesis of mesoporous N doped zirconium titanium mixed oxide nanomaterial with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light

The present paper deals with a hydrazine mediated synthesis of high surface area and thermally stable
N-doped zirconium titanium mixed oxide with enhanced photocatalytic activity towards reduction of selenium (VI) to metallic Se0 under visible light. Materials were synthesized at pH ¼ 2 by varying the hydrazine concentration and characterized by XRD, TEM, BET method, XPS, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis solid state spectra. Presence of low amount of zirconium oxide (10 wt%) helps in phase stabilization and maintains the porous structure even at higher calcinations temperature in comparison to that of pure titania. XPS spectrum justifies the presence of nitrogen and Ti3+ in the material due to the decomposition reaction of hydrazine. Hydrazine controls the nitrogen content, surface area and the formation of oxygen vacancy in the material. Investigation of metal oxide to hydrazine ratio on the overall surface properties and photocatalytic activity indicates that the 1 : 6 ratio is the optimum composition for the best result. Surface area and pore volume increases to 298 m2/g and 0.323 cm3/g. The obtained material (TiZr-6N-400) is found to reduce selenium (VI) to selenium (0) under visible light within only 45 min of reaction. Increased photocatalytic activity under visible light is mostly due to the synergistic effect of substantial nitrogen doping, high surface area and presence of oxygen vacancy.