Effect of Erbium on the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO 2 /Ag Nanocomposites under Visible Light Irradiation

• Published in: Chemphyschem Vol. 16; no. 14; pp. 3084 - 3092
• Main Authors: Prakash, Natarajan, Karthikeyan, Rajan, Thangaraju, Dheivasigamani, Navaneethan, Mani, Arivanandhan, Mukannan, Koyama, Tadanobu, Hayakawa, Yasuhiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 05.10.2015
• ISSN: 1439-4235; 1439-7641
• DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201500492

Abstract Erbium co‐doped TiO 2 /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 TiO 2 . Enhanced photocatalytic activity is observed with Er co‐doped TiO 2 /Ag nanocomposites for Rhodamine B degradation under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of 1 % Er co‐doped TiO 2 /Ag is much higher than that of TiO 2 /Ag, TiO 2 /Er, pure TiO 2 , and commercial Degussa P25. The kinetics of the degradation process are studied and the pseudo‐first‐order rate constant ( k ) and half‐life time ( t 1/2 ) 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 TiO 2 induced by Er.