Effect of Erbium on the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 /Ag Nanocomposites under Visible Light Irradiation.
Erbium co-doped TiO2 /Ag catalysts are synthesized by using a simple, one-step solvothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The catalysts exhibit anatase crystal structures with increased visible light absorption compared with pure TiO2 . Enhanced photocatalytic activity is observed with Er co-doped TiO2 /Ag nanocomposites for Rhodamine B degradation under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of 1 % Er co-doped TiO2 /Ag is much higher than that of TiO2 /Ag, TiO2 /Er, pure TiO2 , and commercial Degussa P25. The kinetics of the degradation process are studied and the pseudo-first-order rate constant (k) and half-life time (t1/2 ) of the reaction are calculated. The enhanced activity might be accredited to the efficient separation of electron-hole pairs by silver and higher visible light absorption of TiO2 induced by Er.
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011 (Japan).
Natarajan
N
Prakash
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011 (Japan).
Rajan
R
Karthikeyan
Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011 (Japan).
Dheivasigamani
D
Thangaraju
Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011 (Japan).
Mani
M
Navaneethan
Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu (India).
Mukannan
M
Arivanandhan
Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011 (Japan).
Tadanobu
T
Koyama
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011 (Japan). royhaya@ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp.|Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8011 (Japan). royhaya@ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp.
Yasuhiro
Y
Hayakawa
doping; nanostructures; photocatalysis; rare earths; titania