Preparation and photocatalytic property of Ce³⁺-doped titanium dioxide nanotubes

ABSTRACT

To enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO₂, different concentration of Ce³⁺-doped TiO₂ nanotubes were prepared using a sol-gel method combined with a hydrothermal process. After being calcined at 450°C, the morphology, composition, and crystal structures were investigated by SEM, TEM, XRD, and EDS. The samples' photocatalytic performance was characterized by degrading methylene blue under illumination of a 250 W UV-light. The result showed that both ends of the nanotubes were ringent and consisted of many layers. Their length could reach to hundred nanometers and the thickness of the walls was about 9 nm. The low-concentration Ce³⁺ did not influence the nanostructure and crystal structure but has a large correlation with the photocatalytic efficiency. The sample with the concentration of 1.5% performed best in photocatalytic reaction.

KEYWORDS:

• Ce³⁺-doped
• photocatalysis TiO₂ nanotubes

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Key Scientific and Technological Project of Jilin Province (Project Grant No. 20140204052GX) and the Opening Research Funds Projects of the state Key Laboratory of inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University (201505).