Breakthrough in Photocatalytics: Researchers Develop Nickel-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanoplates for Efficient Degradation of Contaminants

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Chongqing Jiaotong University have made a significant breakthrough in the field of photocatalytics by developing nickel-doped titanium dioxide (NIT) nanoplates with enhanced visible-light absorption and photocatalytic activity. The study, published in the journal Processes, demonstrates the potential of these nanoplates for the efficient degradation of contaminants such as methylene blue (MB) and nitric oxide (NO).

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers used the sol-gel method combined with mechanical ball milling to synthesize NIT nanoplates with different nickel contents (0.1-1.0 wt%).
  • X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) were employed to characterize the crystalline structure, morphological characteristics, and optical properties of the samples.
  • The photocatalytic activity was evaluated through the degradation of MB under visible light and NO under simulated sunlight, with 0.5 wt% NIT and 0.7 wt% NIT exhibiting the highest photocatalytic activity for MB degradation, achieving degradation rates of 93.1% and 91.4% after 60 min, respectively.
  • The improved photocatalytic performance of the sample is attributed to enhanced visible-light absorption, reduced charge recombination, and a high specific surface area.
  • The study provides a facile strategy for synthesizing Ni-doped TiO2 nanoplates based on the sol-gel method, which is scalable for industrial production of efficient photocatalysts.

Statistics:

  • The photocatalytic activity of NIT nanoplates was evaluated through the degradation of MB and NO under visible light and simulated sunlight, with degradation rates of up to 93.1% and 94.5% after 60 min, respectively.
  • The optimal nitric oxide (NO) conversion efficiency of 45.4% was achieved by 0.7 wt% NIT after 30 min.
  • The specific surface area of the NIT nanoplates was significantly higher than that of pure TiO2, contributing to their enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Sources:

  • NewsRx LLC. Findings on Photocatalytics Detailed by Investigators at Chongqing Jiaotong University (Nickel-doped Tio 2 Nanoplate Synthesized Via Mechanical Ball Milling-assisted Sol-gel Method for Photocatalytic Degradation of Mb and No). Nanotechnology Weekly. May 19, 2025; p 1186.
  • MDPI. Nickel-doped Tio 2 Nanoplate Synthesized Via Mechanical Ball Milling-assisted Sol-gel Method for Photocatalytic Degradation of Mb and No. Processes, 2025;13(4):1192.