Photocatalytic performance of Nd/TiO2 and Nb/TiO2 nanomaterials in the degradation of p‐cresol at room temperature

Abstract BACKGROUND The degradation of organic pollutants, such as p ‐cresol, is a challenge for natural mechanisms, and semiconductors are useful as photocatalysts to restore water quality. This work investigated the effects of neodymium (Nd) and niobium (Nb) doping on the structural and photocatalytic properties of titania (TiO 2 ) under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. RESULTS X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results displayed the formation of anatase, TiO 2 (B) and rutile phases on the Nd/TiO 2 and Nb/TiO 2 compounds. The Rietveld analysis estimated the composition of phases, as well as the crystal size for each crystalline phase in the samples (<43 nm). The crystal sizes and morphology of the powders were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X‐ray spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the presence of Nd and Nb dopants in the TiO 2 ‐based photocatalysts. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms results revealed pore sizes between 5 and 11 nm, as well as surface area values up to ~81 m 2 g −1 . The diverse compounds showed excellent removal efficiency of p ‐cresol under UV light (10–30% faster than commercial TiO 2 ‐P25). CONCLUSIONS This synthesis method favored the incorporation of Nd and Nb dopants in the TiO 2 structure. Nd/TiO 2 specimens showed higher photocatalytic response than Nb/TiO 2 samples, possibly as a result of the synergic effects between phases [anatase and TiO 2 (B)], higher surface area values (≤ ~80.47 m 2 g −1 ), as well as the nature of dopant. Photocatalysts with better photocatalytic performance demonstrated good degradation rate after 20 h. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).