PREPARATION OF Cu-Ni/Ti02 PHOTOCATALYST AND ITS APPLICATION IN ORANGE II REMOVAL UNDER VISIBLE LIGHT IRRADIATION

Photocatalytic degradation of a model azo dye, Orange II, was investigated over bimetallic Cu-Ni/Ti02 photocatalysts. In the present study the introduction of Cu and Ni onto Ti02 surface was with the intention to reduce the band gap of the photocatalyst for enhanced visible light absorption via three methods: co precipitation (CP), deposition-precipitation (DP) and wet impregnation (WI) methods with different Cu:Ni mass composition (10:0, 9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 1:9 and 0:10). The physical and chemical properties of the modified Cu-Ni doped photocatalysts were investigated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Point of Zero Charge (PZC) determination, powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD), BET surface area analysis, Field-emission Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Diffuse Reflectance UVVis Spectroscopy (DRUV-Vis) and Temperature-programmed Reduction (TPR). The raw photocatalysts were activated by calcination at three different temperatures (180°C, 200°C and 300°C) for 1 h duration