Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes by Er3+:YAlO3/TiO2 composite under solar light

Abstract

In this work, Er3+:YAlO3/TiO2 composite was synthesized by a ultrasonic dispersion and liquid boil method. The Er3+:YAlO3/TiO2 composite and pure TiO2 powder were characterized by XRD. The degradation of different organic dyes was used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the Er3+:YAlO3/TiO2 composite. It is found that the photocatalytic activity of Er3+:YAlO3/TiO2 composite is much higher than that for the similar system with only TiO2. Moreover, this Er3+:YAlO3/TiO2 composite provides a new way to take advantage of TiO2 in sewage treatment aspects using solar light.