PREPARATION OF Cu-Ni/Ti02 PHOTOCATALYST AND ITS APPLICATION IN ORANGE II REMOVAL UNDER VISIBLE LIGHT IRRADIATION

Photocatalytic degradation of a model azo dye, Orange II, was investigated over
bimetallic Cu-Ni/Ti02 photocatalysts. In the present study the introduction of Cu and
Ni onto Ti02 surface was with the intention to reduce the band gap of the
photocatalyst for enhanced visible light absorption via three methods: co precipitation
(CP), deposition-precipitation (DP) and wet impregnation (WI) methods with
different Cu:Ni mass composition (10:0, 9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 1:9 and 0:10). The physical
and chemical properties of the modified Cu-Ni doped photocatalysts were
investigated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier-Transformed Infrared
Spectroscopy (FTIR), Point of Zero Charge (PZC) determination, powder X-ray
Diffraction (XRD), BET surface area analysis, Field-emission Scanning Electron
Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX), High
Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Diffuse Reflectance UVVis
Spectroscopy (DRUV-Vis) and Temperature-programmed Reduction (TPR). The
raw photocatalysts were activated by calcination at three different temperatures
(180°C, 200°C and 300°C) for 1 h duration.