Rare earth ion modified TiO2 sols for photocatalysis application under visible light excitation

TiO2 sols modified by rare earth (RE) ions (Ce^4 , Eu^3 , or Nd^3 ) were prepared by coprecipitation-peptizationmethod. The photocatalysis activity was studied by investigating the photodegradation effects of active brilliant red dye X-3B. It is found that TiO2 sols modified by Ce^4 , Eu^3 , or Nd^3 have the anatase crystalline structure, which are prepared at 70℃. All RE^n -TiO2 sol samples have uniform nanoparticles with similar morphology, which are homogenously distributed in aqueous colloidal systems. The particle sizes are 10.8, and 12 nm for Nd^3 -TiO2, Eu^3 -TiO2, and Ce^4 -TiO2, respectively. The character of ultrafine and positive charge sol particles contributes to the good adsorption of X-3B dye molecule on the surface of titania (about 30% X-3B adsorption amount). Experimental results exhibit that RE^n -TiO2 sol photocatalysts have the capability to photodegrade X-3B under visible light irradiation. Nd^3 -TiO2 and Eu^3 -TiO2 show higher photocatalytic activity than Ce^4 -TiO2, which is due to the difference of standard redox potential of RE^n /RE^(n-1) . RE^n -TiO2 sols demon-strate more excellent interfacial adsorption and photodegradation effects to X-3B than P25 TiO2 crystallites. Moreover, the degradation mechanism of X-3B is proposed as dye photosensitization and electron scavenging by rare earth ions.

Rare earth ion modified TiO2 sols for photocatalysis application under visible light excitation

TiO2 sols modified by rare earth (RE) ions (Ce4+, Eu3+, or Nd3+) were prepared by coprecipitation-peptization method. The photocatalysis activity was studied by investigating the photodegradation effects of active brilliant red dye X-3B. It is found that TiO2 sols modified by Ce4+, Eu3+, or Nd3+ have the anatase crystalline structure, which are prepared at 70°C. All REn+-TiO2 sol samples have uniform nanoparticles with similar morphology, which are homogenously distributed in aqueous colloidal systems. The particle sizes are 10, 8, and 12 nm for Nd3+-TiO2, Eu3+-TiO2, and Ce4+-TiO2, respectively.The character of ultrafine and positive charge sol particles contributes to the good adsorption of X-3B dye molecule on the surface of titania (about 30% X-3B adsorption amount). Experimental results exhibit that REn+-TiO2 sol photocatalysts have the capability to photodegrade X-3B under visible light irradiation. Nd3+-TiO2 and Eu3+-TiO2 show higher photocatalytic activity than Cea+-TiO2, which is due to the difference of standard redox potential of REn+/RE(n-1)+. REn+-TiO2 sols demonstrate more excellent interfacial adsorption and photodegradation effects to X-3B than P25 TiO2 crystallites. Moreover, the degradation mechanism of X-3B is proposed as dye photosensitization and electron scavenging by rare earth ions.