Eu2+/Gd3+-codoped nanocrystalline titania catalyst and
its photocatalytic activity under natural light
its photocatalytic activity under natural light
(1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China;
2. School of Chemistry and Environment Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology,
Changsha 410076, China)
2. School of Chemistry and Environment Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology,
Changsha 410076, China)
Abstract: Eu2+/Gd3+-codoped nanocrystalline titania catalysts were prepared by a modified sol-gel method. Powder X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscopy and UV-Vis spectra analyse were carried out to characterize the catalysts with different Eu2+/Gd3+contents.The photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated by the photodegradation of methyl orange in an aqueous solution under natural light irradiation. It has been confirmed that Eu2+/Gd3+-codoped titania could be excited by natural light. The higher natural light activity is due to the codoping of Eu2+/Gd3+. An optimum synergetic effect was found for a mass ratio of Eu/TiO2 equal to 1.0% and Gd/TiO2 equal to 0.5%. The effects induced by Eu2+/Gd3+-codoped on the titania catalysts may be explained in terms of Gd3+→Eu2+ energy transfer to affect the photocatalysis activity of the titania catalysts.
Key words: titania catalysts; codoping; synergetic effect