Preparation of nano-sized mixed crystal TiO2-coated Er3+:YAlO3 by sol-gel method for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes under visible light irradiation

Water Sci Technol. 2009;60(4):917-26. doi: 10.2166/wst.2009.425.

Abstract

In this work, an upconversion luminescence agent, crystallized Er(3 + ):YAlO(3), was synthesized and then coated by the nano-sized TiO(2) film through sol-gel technique. A novel TiO(2) photocatalyst, Er(3 + ):YAlO(3)/TiO(2), with high activity in visible light was subsequently prepared. The Er(3 + ):YAlO(3) and Er(3 + ):YAlO(3)/TiO(2) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The photocatalytic activity of Er(3 + ):YAlO(3)/TiO(2) photocatalyst was tested by the degradation of acid red B in aqueous solution as the primary model compound under visible light irradiation. The experimental results proved that the prepared TiO(2)-coated crystallized Er(3 + ):YAlO(3) was able to decompose the acid red B efficiently, and it is promising to use the idea to develop new TiO(2) photocatalyst with high activity for photocatalytic degradation under visible light.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Oxide / chemistry*
  • Azo Compounds / chemistry
  • Catalysis / radiation effects
  • Coloring Agents / chemistry*
  • Crystallization
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / radiation effects
  • Kinetics
  • Light*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Naphthalenesulfonates / chemistry
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Phase Transition / radiation effects*
  • Powders
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Time Factors
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Azo Compounds
  • Coloring Agents
  • Naphthalenesulfonates
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Powders
  • acid red B
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium
  • Aluminum Oxide