Abstract: The Pb doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles were prepared by the sol-gel method. Nanoparticles of TiO2 powder co-doped with Pb and N were prepared using a sol-gel method followed by being calcined for two hours at a temperature ranging from 500 to 600℃ in a NH3/Ar atmosphere. Particle appearances were characterized by XPS, XPS, SEM and UV-VIS, and the photo-catalysis of TiO2 was studied by degrading methyl orange. Results indicate that Pb doping could decrease the particle size of nanoparticles, and Pb-N co-doping has a synergistic effect that could decrease the band gap energy and increase the visible absorption capacity of samples. Pb-N co-doped TiO2 appears to have higher photo-catalysis activity under visible light than TiO2 and Pb doped TiO2. 0.5% Pb-N co-doped TiO2 could degrade aqueous methyl orange (20mg/L) within 35minutes.

Key words: photo-catalysis , preparation, co-dope, titanium dioxide