title: Preparation, characterization, and photocatalytic activity of Gd3+ doped TiO2 nanoparticles.
abstract: TiO2 and Gd3+ doped TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel method and the materials were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM-EDX, BET, FT-IR, UV-Vis absorption, and Raman spectral analysis. The photocatalytic activity of nano TiO2 and Gd/TiO2 nanoparticles was evaluated using a model pollutant propoxur, a carbamate pesticide, in a batch type UV photoreactor. The results revealed higher photocatalytic activity for Gd/TiO2 nanoparticles than both TiO2 nanoparticles and commercial TiO2 (Degussa P-25). The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Gd/TiO2 relative to TiO2 is attributed to its increased band gap energy as evidenced from the blue shift to shorter wavelength observed in the UV-Vis abso4ption spectra. The recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pair decreased due to increase in the band gap, which enhanced the charge transfer efficiency of Gd/TiO2 nanoparticles. Gd3+ with its half filled 7 f subshell facilitated rapid electron transfer at solid-liquid interface by shallowly trapping the electrons. Among the various dopant level of gadolinium, 0.3 wt% Gd/TiO2 nanoparticles showed higher activity than others due to its higher surface area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahalakshmi
authors.forename: Banumathi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arabindoo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palanichamy
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Murugesan
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D001074:Propoxur / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D005682:Gadolinium; D001074:Propoxur; D014025:Titanium