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Rational Selection of Transition Metal Co-dopant in Sulfur-doped Titanium Dioxide
1  Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
2  Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Santo Tomas, España Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila, Philip-pines
Academic Editor: Antoni Sánchez

Abstract:

This paper investigates the general trend in structural, electronic, and optical properties of anatase TiO2 photocatalysts co-doped with transition metals and sulfur. We attempt to rationalize co-dopant selection by employing molecular dynamics and density functional theory calculations. The structural properties of the first-row transition metal co-dopants were determined. TM-TiO2 and TM/S-TiO2 were structurally stable, with minimal changes in their lattice parameters, cell volume, density, and XRD profiles relative to pristine TiO2. However, only Fe and Mn, among the first-row transition metals, are thermodynamically-favorable, i.e., their substitutional energies are lower relative to pristine TiO2. Intermediate energy levels (IELs) are formed during transition metals and sulfur co-doping on TiO2. In particular, Fe and Co form two IELs between the VBM and CBM, resulting in improved optical properties, especially in the visible-light region, mainly attributed to the unsaturated nonbonding transition metal d orbitals and the half-filled Ti–O bonding orbitals. On the other hand, Cu and Ni form three IELs close to each other due to the M–O anti-bond orbitals, half-filled p orbitals of S, and the Ti–S anti-bonding orbitals. These IELs in co-doped systems can serve as “stepping stones” for the photogenerated electrons, facilitating easier charge mobility. Among the investigated co-doped systems, Fe/S-TiO2 was shown to be the most promising for photocatalytic applications.

Keywords: Molecular dynamics; density functional theory; titanium dioxide; co-doping; photocatalysis
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