Synthesis of vanadium-modified rutile TiO2 nanoparticle by reactive grinding method and its photocatalytic activity under solar light at room temperature

Thi Minh Nguyet Tran, Thi Hoang Yen Quach, Que Chi Tran, Thi Toan Nguyen, Van Chien Nguyen, Hung Manh Do, Dang Thanh Tran, Hong Nhung Nguyen, Phi Tuyen Vu and Dang Khuong Le

Abstract

Rutile TiO₂ was synthesized by sol–gel method. Vanadium-doped rutile TiO₂ nanoparticle was obtained by reactive grinding method. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under solar light at room temperature. The results show that after 4 h of milling the particle size of rutile decreased from 130 to 14 nm and the Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) specific surface area increased from 7.18 to 15.12 m² g⁻¹. The vanadium doping promoted the particle growth and the particle size of vanadium-modified rutile TiO₂ obtained by 4 h of milling is about 22 nm, but the BET specific surface area increased from 15.12 m² g⁻¹ for TiO₂ to 20.8 m² g⁻¹ for vanadium-doped TiO₂ under the same conditions. The 5% vanadium-doped rutile possessed better absorption ability of solar light; the calculated band gap energy value is 2.7 eV. The degradation rate of MB on vanadium-doped rutile TiO₂ was higher than that of pure rutile obtained after the same time of milling