Abstract
In this study, Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) doped nano Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposites were prepared by hydrothermal method and under different reaction conditions. The reason for doping with nano SiO2 is to ensure that nano TiO2 gains photocatalytic activity in the visible region instead of showing photocatalytic properties only under ultraviolet (UV) light. The synthesis process was carried out by changing the nano SiO2 percentage in order to compare the nanocomposite materials formed in the synthesis part of these photocatalysts in terms of structure and to customize the content. A total of 3 different SiO2–TiO2 nanocomposites and anatase form of TiO2 were successfully synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Nano SiO2 ratios were synthesized in the total nano TiO2 material as 100%, 50% and 10%, respectively. The structure of the obtained nanocomposite was elucidated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Ultraviolet-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-DRS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. Studies on the degradation of organic pollutants of nanocomposite under visible light showed that the obtained nanocomposite exhibits photocatalytic activity under visible light. Additionally, unlike the studies in the literature, SiO2 and TiO2 were synthesized from raw materials in the same environment, and synthesis was not performed separately. Due to this feature, it is seen as a method that has less effort and can make a difference compared to previous studies, and that can affect future studies.