Fabrication, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of P-Acetaminophen Modified TiO₂ at Low Temperature

Abstract

P-acetaminophen modified TiO₂ was successfully prepared via a sol–gel method from refluxed sol at low temperature of 80°C. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, FTIR, and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. Congo red was used as a model contaminant to evaluate the photocatalytic performance of the surface modified TiO₂ photocatalyst irradiated by solar light. It was found that the modified TiO₂ exhibited much better activity than pure TiO₂. The visible photocatalytic activity was correlated with the surface organic complex formation that was supported by the UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra.

Keywords:

• P-acetaminophen
• photocatalysis
• titania
• visible-light response