Synthesis of photocatalytic TiO2-Eu2O3 for phenol decomposition in wastewater

Abstract

Photocatalytic technology has many new applications and great potential in providing clean energy and decomposing organic pollutants in the environment. Among them, TiO2 is a good photochemical catalyst, but has a limitation that is only shown in ultraviolet light. To expand the application of photocatalytic materials using solar radiation in visible light, this research focuses on the semiconductor photochemical transformation process. In this study, TiO2-Eu2O3 nanomaterial was synthesised by the sol-gel method with polyvinyl alcohol used as gelling agent. The effects of the contents of TiO2, Eu2O3 and the sintering temperature of the gel were investigated. The obtained material samples were analysed for characteristics and properties by the surface analysis techniques SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD, the infrared spectrum and the UV–vis molecular absorption spectrum. Analysis of modified TiO2 according to EDX, XRD showed the formation of crystalline and evenly dispersed Eu2O3 particles in TiO2 phases with an average particle size of 20–50 nm. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2-Eu2O3 nanoparticles was determined by the phenol decomposition efficiency in the hypothetical water sample and the actual wastewater samples with a concentration of 10 ppm under ultraviolet light and visible light. The resulting phenol decomposition was more than 90% efficient after about 150 min.