TiO2 doped with europium (Eu): Synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance on pesticide degradation under solar irradiation

In this work titanium dioxide (TiO2) band gap energy modification was performed, in order to increase its photocatalytic activity on the visible spectrum range of solar radiation. Europium (Eu) was incorporated on the surface of TiO2 at 0.2 wt% and 0.6 wt%, using impregnation method. The photocataly...

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Published inCatalysis today Vol. 394-396; pp. 304 - 313
Main Authors Xochihua Juan, José Luis, Solis Maldonado, Carolina, Luna Sánchez, Raúl Alejandro, Enciso Díaz, Oswaldo Javier, Rojas Ronquillo, María Rebeca, Sandoval-Rangel, Ladislao, Pineda Aguilar, Nayely, Ramos Delgado, Norma Alicia, Martínez-Vargas, Daniela Xulú
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 01.07.2022
Subjects
Band gap energy
Impregnation
Methidathion degradation
Solar photocatalysis
TiO2-Eu
Solar photocatalysis
Impregnation
Band gap energy
TiO2-Eu
Methidathion degradation
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Summary:In this work titanium dioxide (TiO2) band gap energy modification was performed, in order to increase its photocatalytic activity on the visible spectrum range of solar radiation. Europium (Eu) was incorporated on the surface of TiO2 at 0.2 wt% and 0.6 wt%, using impregnation method. The photocatalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption (N2-physisorption), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDXS) and UV-Visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis). The effect of Eu incorporation on TiO2 over photocatalytic degradation of pesticide methidathion (MD) in aqueous solution was also evaluated. Results revealed that for TiO2 modified with 0.2 wt% Eu, the band gap energy decreased from 3.30 to 3.10 eV. Solar light activation was enhanced, obtaining 64% degradation and 57% mineralization of methidathion with turnover frequency (TOF) of 713 h−1. [Display omitted] •Impregnation of Eu on TiO2 increased its photocatalytic activity under sunlight.•The europium allowed band gap interval decrease by around 6%.•TiO2-Eu catalyst showed enhanced methidathion degradation compared with pure TiO2.
ISSN:0920-5861
1873-4308
DOI:10.1016/j.cattod.2021.08.024