Synthesis of The Cu(II)-doped TiO2/Bi2O3 as a Photocatalyst for Rhodamin B Degradation Under Visible Light Ilumination

Abstract

The Cu(II)-doped TiO₂ and Cu(II)-doped TiO₂ /Bi₂O₃ compound have been synthesized using the sol gel method with titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as the TiO₂ precursor and Cu(NO₃)₂.3H₂O as the Cu(II) dopant was carried out at various concentration of 0.075%; 0.250% and 1.000%, as well as Bi(NO₃)₃.5H₂O as a Bi₂O₃ precursor. Based on characterization using the DRSUV-Vis spectrophotometric method with data analysis using a tauch plot, it is known that the band gap energy of Cu(II)-doped TiO₂ is 2.89 eV; 2.72 eV; 2.54 eV. The addition of Bi₂O₃ to Cu(II)-doped TiO₂ (1%) causes a decrease in the band gap from 2.54 to 2.18 eV which is equivalent to a wavelength of 567 nm. IR spectrophotometry spectra analysis shows a shift in Ti-O absorption towards smaller wave numbers. Characterization by the XRD method shows that 1% Cu(II)-doped TiO₂ /Bi₂O₃ has an anatase phase with a crystallite size of 24 nm. Photocatalysis activity test on the degradation of rhodamine B solution at a concentration of 10 ppm, under visible light illumination for 180 minutes was able to degrade up to 85.85%.