Preparation and characterization of doped metal-supported TiO2-layers

Defined doping of metal-supported TiO2-layers is possible by using cerium or gadolinium complex-precursors in anodic spark deposition processes. Thereby CeO2 und Gd2Ti2O7 species are formed in TiO2-layers and the concentration of anatase increases. Studies using XRD, REM, TGA, DTA und HPLC have been carried out and characteristics of the surface were defined. The doping of TiO2 using cerium and gadolinium results in a decreasing BET surface area. The band-gap determination of cerium doped samples offers a blue-shift. These results are reflected in studies of photocatalytic activity using reaction of methanol conversion. Gadolinium doped titanium dioxide showed better photocatalytic activity than cerium doped sample possibly because of the stability of Gd3+-ions.