title: Visible light responsive sulfated rare earth doped TiO(2)@fumed SiO(2) composites with mesoporosity: enhanced photocatalytic activity for methyl orange degradation.
abstract: Visible light (VL) responsive mesoporous sulfated rare earth ions (Nd(3+), La(3+), Y(3+)) incorporated TiO2@fumed SiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by sol-gel method with P123 (EO20PO70EO20) as a template. The resultant samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption-desorption measurements (BET), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analyses (TG-DTA). In comparison with nondoped sample, RE-doped samples showed not only an increase in the surface areas and pore volumes, but also an inhibition of titania phase transition from anatase to rutile. Photo-degradation results revealed that RE-doped samples could greatly improve the photocatalytic activity, and the experimental degradation rates of methyl orange (MO) were higher than that catalyzed by undoped samples and Degussa P-25, obeyed the order of Nd(3+)>La(3+)>Y(3+). Nd-doped sample expressed the highest photoactivity and the optimal dosage was 0.25mol%, which resulted in MO degradation rates of 99.8% and 90.05% irradiation under UV for 60min and VL (λ>400nm) for 40h, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the higher specific area, good crystallinity, strong VL absorption and effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the catalyst.
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, China.
authors.forename: Changchao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China. Electronic address: jacksonchen008@163.com.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
authors.forename: Jintao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
authors.forename: Daoxing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China. Electronic address: zhongmq@zjut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Mingqiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002384:Catalysis; D004055:Differential Thermal Analysis; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008027:Light; D049449:Luminescence; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; C009495:titanium dioxide; C100258:methyl orange; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Mesoporosity; Rare earth ions; Sol–gel method; Sulfated TiO(2)@fumed SiO(2); Visible light photocatalysis