Correlation of fluorescence and photocatalytic activity of Co-doped TiO2

Co-doped TiO 2 (0.5-4 mol%) photocatalysts were synthesized via sol-gel method and their physical and chemical properties were investigated. Addition of Co oxide dopant induced anatase to rutile phase transition and reduced the band gap energy of TiO 2 . The fluorescence result indicated that the electron-hole recombination rate was reduced with the presence of Co oxide dopant. The best photocatalyst obtained was 3Co-TiO 2 which enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 by 12 folds to 26.6%. The importance of fluorescence properties of Co-doped TiO 2 towards its photodegradation of Congo Red was presented.