Comparison of bandgap edge of TiO2, Cu doped TiO2 and new Cu/TiO2-Phetolocyanin nanocomposite

In this study, copper-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles and hybrid nanocomposites containing copper-doped titanium dioxide and phthalocyanine pigment (Cu3%TiO2-Pc) were synthesized to modify the titanium dioxide bond gap. Doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized with a 3% mole of copper and pigment (Pc) by the alkoxide sol-gel method. The characterization of nanoparticles and hybrid nanocomposites synthesized carried out using X-ray diffraction analysis, simultaneous thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy analysis, Transmission electron microscopy techniques. The results showed that titanium dioxide nanoparticles doped with 3% mol of copper had only anatase phase .The results confirm the successful synthesis of copper doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles and hybrid Cu-TiO2-Pc nanocomposites. Electron microscopy images illustrate hybrid nanocomposites that have rod morphology and the 2 particle size of about 15-20 nm. UV-Vis spectroscopy results confirm that the absorption edge of as-synthesized hybrid nanocomposites has shifted significantly to the visible region.