Highly Crystalline Ordered Cu-dopedTiO2Nanostructure by Paper Templated Method: Hydrogen Production and Dye Degradation under Natural Sunlight.

A highly crystalline ordered Cu-TiO₂ nanostructure was synthesized using a simple paper template method using cupric nitrate and titanium isopropoxide as precursors. The structural study by XRD confirmed the formation of highly crystalline anatase phase of Cu-TiO₂. The broad diffraction peaks of Cu-TiO₂ exhibit the nanocrystalline nature of the product. The optical study by UV-DRS indicated the red shift in absorption wavelength with an increase in Cu doping, i.e., towards the visible region. The FE-SEM and FE-TEM study validated the formation of spherical shaped nanoparticles of Cu-TiO₂ having sizes in the range of 20–30 nm. Considering the absorption in the visible region, the photocatalytic study was performed for water splitting and rhodamine-B (RhB) dye degradation under natural sunlight. The 2% Cu-doped TiO₂ showed the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, i.e., 1400 µmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ from water, among the prepared compositions. The photocatalytic performance of Cu-TiO₂ conferred complete degradation of RhB dye within 40 min. The higher activity in both cases was attributed to the formation of highly crystalline ordered nanostructure of Cu-doped TiO₂. This synthesis approach has potential to prepare other highly crystalline ordered nanostructured semiconductors for different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]