Cerium-modified TiO2 nanocrystalline films for visible light photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Abstract Cerium modified thin nanocrystalline TiO 2 photocatalytic films for visible light utilization, are prepared via sol–gel route at 500 °C on glass substrates. The synthesis involves a simple procedure employing nonionic surfactant molecule as pore directing agent along with the acetic acid-catalyzed sol–gel route without direct addition of water molecules while cerium was present at different concentrations. Drying and thermal treatment of the films led to the formation of TiO 2 nanoparticles with homogeneous particle size distribution. The presence of cerium induced a decrease of the TiO 2 nanoparticle size. Nanocomposite films were formed without cracks and consisted of anatase crystal phase and small crystallite size ranging from 7 to 10 nm. All materials were characterized by microscopy techniques, UV–vis and porosimetry methods in order to examine their structural properties. The Ce-modified TiO 2 films with various cerium contents were evaluated as visible light photocatalysts for the photo-oxidation of potential organic pollutants in water.