Visible-light-sensitive N-doped TiO2 photocatalysts prepared by a mechanochemical method: effect of a nitrogen source

Nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-doped TiO2) photocatalysts were prepared by a mechanochemical method by using a high-speed ball milling of P25 TiO2 with nitrogen sources such as ammonia solution, hexamine, and urea. Visible-light absorption was determined from the onset of diffused reflectance spectrum. The photocatalytic activity of the N-doped TiO2 was evaluated through the removal of methylene blue (MB) under visible-light irradiation. The effects of nitrogen precursors used during the mechanochemical synthesis on the catalysts’ properties, such as the effective particle size, surface area, and photocatalytic activity, were extensively investigated.