Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange by polyoxometalates supported on neodium-doped TiO2 nanoparticle

polyoxometalate was selected as precursor and TiO2 doped with neodium as support to prepare photocatalysts POMs-Nd-Tio2 with different loadings, by using impregnation method and sol-gel technique. The catalysts were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT -IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The results showed that sandwich- type polyoxometalate was successfully loaded on the Nd-doped anatase phase TiO2 nanoparticles and relatively uniform nanometer particles of diameter 20-30 nm. The effects the amount of loading of tin-derivative sandwich type polyoxometalate, catalyst dose, initial pH and concentration of dye solution on the photodegradation kinetics of methyl orange under UV light were discussed. Methyl orange was totally degraded in 5 minutes under optimum condition. The catalyst was stable and easily to be separated from reaction system for recovery.