Abstract
Abstract
There has been a growing trend toward the addition of surface modifiers, surfactants, or capping agents to the precursors of titanium dioxide nanoparticles to tailor their morphology, structure, and size. In this study, surface-modified, manganese-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions (pressure is autogenous; temperature, 250°C; time, 18 h). Using different molar ratios, we applied caprylic acid to change the surface chemistry and photocatalytic efficiency of manganese-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Reagent grade titanium dioxide and manganese dioxide were the precursors, and concentrated hydrogen chloride was used as a solvent. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using powder x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Photodegradation studies of methylene blue were then carried out using ultraviolet and sunlight irradiation to compare the photocatalytic efficiency of the products. Results of chemical oxygen demand and transmission percentage revealed a higher photocatalytic efficiency of the surface-modified, manganese-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles compared to reagent grade titanium dioxide.
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