Investigation of the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 after Neutron Irradiation

Saule Dyussembekova; Aididar Sailaubek; Dina Utarova; Slambek  Kapan; Bulan Maikanov; Timur Khalila; Kirill Kisselyov; Magzhan Aitkulov; Diana Yessenkeldina

doi:10.18321/ectj1702

Authors

Saule Dyussembekova Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 Al-Farabi Ave., 050040, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov str., 050032, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Aididar Sailaubek Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov str., 050032, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Dina Utarova Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov str., 050032, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Slambek Kapan Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov str., 050032, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Satbayev University, 22a Satbaev Str., 050013, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Bulan Maikanov Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov str., 050032, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Satbayev University, 22a Satbaev Str., 050013, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Timur Khalila Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov str., 050032, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Kirill Kisselyov Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov str., 050032, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Magzhan Aitkulov Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov str., 050032, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Diana Yessenkeldina Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov str., 050032, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Satbayev University, 22a Satbaev Str., 050013, Almaty, Kazakhstan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18321/ectj1702

Keywords:

Titanium dioxide, Photocatalysis, Neutron irradiatio, Dye degradation

Abstract

This work focused on the investigation of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) modified with magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al) ions (0.5–2%) before and after neutron irradiation. The influence of irradiation on the morphological and optical characteristics of the samples was evaluated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The resulting photocatalysts were tested for the degradation of methylene blue under UV irradiation. The photocatalytic tests demonstrated a maximum methylene blue removal efficiency of 98.3% for the TiO₂:Al–0.5% sample after 1 h of neutron irradiation. These results demonstrate that the Mg/Al modification and neutron irradiation can influence the photocatalytic properties of modified TiO₂, highlighting the potential of this approach for future environmental applications.

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