Synthesis, Structural, and Functional Characterization of Nickel-Doped Titanium Dioxide

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) semiconductor photocatalysts hold great potential in environmental cleanup, capture of solar energy and optoelectronic production owing to their non-toxicity, stability and photocatalytic behavior. Being difficult to use in the visible and less effective in breaking down dyes and splitting water and eliminating contaminants due to their broad bandgap (around 3.2 eV) and rapid charge recombination, they are not suitable in the visible light. In this study, nickel-doped TiO₂ (Ni-TiO₂) nanoparticles are synthesized using the optimal sol-gel method in which titanium (IV) butoxide, nickel nitrate, ethanol and HCl are used to ensure homogeneous doping and good surface area. The results of the characterization were significant: XRD revealed the presence of a pure anatase phase with crystallite sizes in the range of 12-18 nm (Scherrer equation) and stronger peak intensities at 25.3 of 101 plane; These improvements facilitate high-quality visible-light photocatalysis compared to undoped TiO₂ and offer an avenue to better dye degradation (>80 % in 60 min), H2 generation at scale, and self-cleaning coats, and constant tests run to determine photocatalytic rates and the optimality of Ni concentrations in applications.