Synthesis characterization and photocatalytic properties of Lanthanides included tio2nanoparticles

Abstract

newline Inclusion of lanthanide rare earth ions titania have attracted considerable newlineattention due to its enhancement in light absorption and it can alter the band structure newlinebased on their electronic configuration. In this work, the lanthanides Ce, Gd, Dy, Er newlineand Sm are included in the titania by sol-gel method to form their nanocomposites and newlinetheir structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties are analyzed. newlineFormation of pure anatase phase is confirmed from XRD and FT-Raman spectra. HRSEM newlineimages showed the formation of nearly spherical shaped particles on lanthanide newlineaddition except Gd. In the case of Gd, the particles are fused to form larger grains. newlineOptical band gap is determined from reflectance spectra using K-M relation while the newlinelattice defects such as oxygen vacancies are identified from PL. Bulk resistance of newlinethese nanocomposites decreases with increase in lanthanide addition has been obtained newlinefrom AC impedance spectra. From cyclic voltammogram, the separation between newlineanodic and cathodic peak is measured and the better conducting material is identified. newlinePhotocatalytic properties of lanthanides included TiO2 is analyzed using RhB as model newlinepollutant. Among that, ErxTi1-xO2 nanocomposites with x=0.10 exhibited highest newlinephotocatalytic activity and it degraded 99.32% of RhB dye in 3 h of irradiation. The newlinestability of these materials is checked after the degradation of RhB dye using XRD newlineanalysis. The kinetics of RhB removal fitted well with pseudo first order kinetic model newlinefor the entire period of irradiation. The photocatalytic performance of these newlinenanocomposites is due to the cumulative effect arising from high photon absorption, newlinereduction of electron-hole recombination and availability of large number of active newlinesites.