Study on Synthesis, Structural, and Photocatalytic Properties of MnTiO3

Abstract

With the continuous development of industry, the problem of water pollution is becoming increasingly serious. Methylene blue (Mb) is an important water pollutant that has a negative impact on ecosystems. Photocatalytic technology has been recognized as an effective and environmentally friendly method for solving water pollution, which has attracted widespread research attention. This study providing a solid experimental and theoretical basis for solving water pollution and has high research value. In this paper, MnTiO₃ with different molar ratios (Mn:Ti = 1:0.9 and 1:1) and different calcination temperatures (800, 900, and 1000 °C) was synthesized by sol–gel method. A systematic study was conducted on the structure, photodegradation performance, and photodegradation mechanism of synthetic materials. Research has shown that when the Mn:Ti ratio is 1:0.9 and the calcination temperature is 1000 °C/2 h, pure MnTiO₃ phase can be obtained. Among them, the MnTi_0.9O₃-900 °C/2 h sample composed of MnTiO₃, TiO₂, and Mn₂O₃ phases showed the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency (54.3%) towards Mb. The mechanism of the excellent photocatalytic activity of MnTi_0.9O₃-900 °C/2 h is due to its narrow bandgap, porous structure, abundant oxygen vacancies, and heterojunction structure, which enhances light absorption and improves electron hole separation efficiency.