Preparation and photocatalytic activity of rare earth doped TiO2 nanoparticles

A one-step, a one-pot, no post-synthesis calcination and no sol–gel synthesis was used for preparation of rare earth doped visible-light sensitive titania. This method is easy transferable to industrial conditions, is ecologically friendly and make it possible to production of low-cost photocatalytic pigment. The products were characterized by all common techniques (X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET and porosity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV/VIS spectra). The photocatalytic activity of the prepared samples was assessed by the photocatalytic decomposition of Orange II dye in an aqueous slurry under irradiation of 254, 365 and 400 nm wavelength. The rare earth (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Gd) for doped titania were used, the best photocatalytic properties in visible light have samples doped with Nd3+ ions (k = 0.0272 min−1 for UV and 0.0143 min−1 for visible light).