Preparation, phase transformation and photocatalytic activities of cerium-doped mesoporous titania nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry 2006-04, Vol.179 (4), p.1161-1170
• Main Authors: Xiao, Jiangrong, Peng, Tianyou, Li, Ran, Peng, Zhenghe, Yan, Chunhua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anatase; CERIUM; Cerium doped; Chemistry; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Crystalline state (including molecular motions in solids); Crystallographic aspects of phase transformations; pressure effects; Defects and impurities in crystals; microstructure; DOPED MATERIALS; Doping and impurity implantation in other materials; Electrochemistry; Electrodes: preparations and properties; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Mesoporous materials; Nanoparticles; NANOSTRUCTURES; PARTICLES; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; Physics; RUTILE; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Titania; TITANIUM OXIDES; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; X-RAY DIFFRACTION
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2006.01.008

Cerium-doped mesoporous TiO 2 nanoparticles with high surface area and thermal stable anatase wall were synthesized via hydrothermal process in a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/Ti(SO 4) 2/Ce(NO 3) 4/H 2O system. The obtained materials were characterized by XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, FTIR spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption and DRS spectra. Experimental results indicated that the doping of cerium not only increased the surface area of mesoporous TiO 2 nanoparticles, but also inhibited the mesopores collapse and the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation. Moreover, the undoped, doped anatase mesoporous nanoparticles exhibit higher photocatalytic activity than commercial photocatalyst (Degussa, P25), but the maximum photodegradation rate corresponds to the undoped mesoporous TiO 2 nanoparticles. The lower photocatalytic activities of cerium-doped samples compared with undoped one may be ascribed to that the doped cerium partially blocks titania's surface sites available for the photodegradation and absorption of Rhodamine B (RB). Cerium-doped mesoporous TiO 2 nanoparticles with high surface area and thermal stable anatase wall were synthesized via hydrothermal process. Experimental results indicated that the doping of cerium not only increased the surface area of mesoporous TiO 2 nanoparticles, but also inhibited the mesopores collapse and the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation. Moreover, the undoped, doped anatase mesoporous nanoparticles exhibit higher photocatalytic activity than P25, but the maximum photodegradation rate corresponds to the undoped mesoporous TiO 2 nanoparticles. The lower photocatalytic activities of cerium-doped samples compared with undoped one may be ascribed to that the doped cerium partially blocks titania's surface sites available for the photodegradation and absorption of Rhodamine B.