Enhanced photocatalytic activity of beryllium doped titania in visible light on the degradation of methyl orange dye

The present work is focused on the synthesis of beryllium doped titania (Be+2-TiO2) at different percentages (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 wt.%) by the sol-gel method and its characterization using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform-Infra red and Ultra violet-visible absorption spectroscopic methods. Diffraction peaks of anatase crystalline phase were present in both synthesized TiO2 and Be+2-TiO2. The presence of Be+2 ion in the TiO2 structure caused a significant absorption shift towards the visible region and its presence was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier Transform-Infra Red data. The photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized Be+2-TiO2 and pure TiO2 was evaluated by the degradation of aqueous methyl orange dye under visible light irradiation, where the degradation rate of methyl orange by Be+2-TiO2 was found to be higher than by pure TiO2. This can be attributed to more efficient electron-hole creation in Be+2-TiO2 in visible light and the electrons produced due to photosensitization of the dye can be scavenged by photoexcited doped TiO2 in visible light.