Effect of Erbium on the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2/Ag Nanocomposites under Visible Light Irradiation |
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| Authors: | Natarajan Prakash Rajan Karthikeyan Dr Dheivasigamani Thangaraju Dr Mani Navaneethan Dr Mukannan Arivanandhan Tadanobu Koyama Prof Yasuhiro Hayakawa |
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| Institution: | 1. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3‐5‐1 Johoku, Naka‐ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432‐8011 (Japan);2. Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, 3‐5‐1 Johoku, Naka‐ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432‐8011 (Japan);3. Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu (India) |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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| Keywords: | doping nanostructures photocatalysis rare earths titania |
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