Synthesis and characterization of magnesium doped titania for photocatalytic degradation of methyl red

Magnesium doped titania (MDT) composites with varying magnesium weight percentages (1–5 wt. %) were synthesized through a very simple and economical route of sol-gel method. The reactants used for making alkoxide precursor were titanium tetrachloride whereas magnesium nitrate was used for doping magnesium into titania in a mixture of solvents i.e. ethyl alcohol and water. The optimum conditions maintained for preparing sol were pH 3 and 60°C temperature with constant stirring for 2 hours. The gel obtained after drying the sol for each sample was calcined at 500°C for two hours. The powdered composite samples thus prepared were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetric analysis (DSC-TGA), infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The samples were evaluated for their photocatalytic activity against methyl red dye under UV light irradiation and the dye degradation was examined by UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The results confirmed the excellent photocatalytic activity of synthesized magnesium doped TiO₂ for the degradation of methyl red dye where MDT-3 having 3% magnesium doping exhibited the maximum degradation i.e. 96.8%. (author)