Green synthesis of undoped and yttrium, bismuth co-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Bryophyllum pinnatum for photocatalytic application

Abstract

In this research, a non-toxic, inexpensive, and environment-friendly green synthesis route was investigated to synthesize undoped and Y, Bi co-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles by using Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract. Precursor material titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) was utilized for both undoped and co-doped TiO₂ and Yttrium and Bismuth were added to 1, 2, and 3 percent as co-dopants. The obtained undoped and Y, Bi co-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles were characterized by various analytical techniques, which include X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and UV–Visible spectroscopy for the evaluation of the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic activity. Anatase phase formation was observed from the XRD analysis for both undoped and Y, Bi co-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles. The average particle size for undoped TiO₂ nanoparticles was found to be 15.92 nm which raised to 21.70 nm for 3 % co-doping. UV–Vis Spectroscopy analysis revealed a reduction on band gap energy (E_g) for Y, Bi co-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles. Methylene blue (MB) photodegradation demonstrates co-doping with Y, Bi significantly increases the photocatalytic activity. Overall, green synthesis using Bryophyllum pinnatum was found to be an economical method to fabricate TiO₂ NPs that shows great improvement in photo-degradation characteristics.