Complete photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline by carbon doped TiO2 supported with stable metal nitrate hydroxide

Visible light-driven carbon-doped TiO2 supported with metal nitrate hydroxide (CT-Ni/Co/Cu) nanocomposites were prepared and characterized by various studies. It is fascinating to note that particle size of TiO2 was substantially reduced from 5 μm to 50 nm after doping of carbon which was confirmed by FESEM. Moreover, the incorporation of stable metal (Cu) nitrate hydroxide further enhanced the visible light absorption up to 800 nm as evident by UV-DRS. The carbon doping and copper nitrate formation are validated by the Ti-O-C and N-O bonds using XPS and FTIR spectra. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared photocatalyst was tested for the tetracycline degradation (TC, 10 mg/mL) under light irradiation. Significantly, 3 wt% carbon-doped TiO2 (31CT) with Cu (II) hydroxide nitrate nanocomposite photocatalyst exhibited an excellent photocatalytic activity (97%, within 1 h), and the corresponding reaction rate was around 2 times higher than bare TiO2. The excellent photocatalytic activity of 31CT-Cu nanocomposite was due to enhanced adsorbent of TC via carbon doping, visible light absorption, improved photo-generated carrier separation and migration by metal nitrate hydroxide as a support. This work may promote the development of a new carbon-doped TiO2 supported with highly stable metal nitrate hydroxide nanocomposite by facile method and used as an efficient photocatalyst for photodegradation of environmental pollutants.