Abstract
La3+-doped cubic potassium tantalate photocatalysts were prepared by a hydrothermal treatment process. It is found that the La3+ ions were homogeneously incorporated in the KTaO3 host lattice, leading to a monotonous lattice contraction and particle size reduction. Meanwhile, the BET surface areas were also enlarged from 4.9 to ∼9.8m2g−1. Consistently, La3+-doped KTaO3 nanocrystals showed a broadened band gap, which can be well-defined as a consequence of the contractive particle size. DFT calculation predicted a deeper band edge and a dispersive dense state of valance state by La3+ ions doping due to the hybridization of O 2p and La 6p orbitals, increasing the oxidative capacity and mobility of photogenerated charge carriers, thus enhance the photocatalytic activity. The mixed state of Ta5+ and Ta4+ was found to appear in the K1−xLaxTaO3 nanocrystals, which may suppress the formation of cationic vacancies. The superior photocatalytic performance of K1−xLaxTaO3 nanocrystals was achieved by well-controlled contractive particle size and optimized La3+ doping level.
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