Photoluminescence and photocatalytic activity of flowerlike hierarchical TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microspheres

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2013.10.037· OSTI ID:22345213

Li, Ying ^[1]; Wang, Guofeng ^[1]; Meng, Lingrong; Zhao, Yuzhen ^[2]; Jiang, Baojiang; Liu, Shuai; Xu, Bingyu; Wang, Yuping; Su, Jiamin ^[1]

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1. Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080 (China)
2. State Key Laboratory of New Ceramic and Fine Processing, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China)

Graphical abstract: Flowerlike hierarchical TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microspheres were successfully prepared via a solvothermal method. The crystalline size decreased with increasing Sm{sup 3+} concentration. Each TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microsphere consists of several dozen nanopetals, which are composed of several aggregated nanothorns. Under 290, 360, 362, and 368 nm excitation, the {sup 4}G{sub 5/2} → {sup 6}H{sub 5/2}, {sup 4}G{sub 5/2} → {sup 6}H{sub 7/2}, and {sup 4}G{sub 5/2} → {sup 6}H{sub 9/2} transitions were observed. The luminescence intensity increased with increasing Sm{sup 3+} concentration, up to about 1.5 mol%, and then decreased abruptly. In addition to the aforementioned photoluminescence properties, TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microspheres can present photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB. - Highlights: • Flowerlike hierarchical TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microspheres were synthesized by a solvothermal method. • TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microspheres can present photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB. • The optical properties of TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microspheres with different Sm{sup 3+} concentration were studied in detail. - Abstract: Flowerlike hierarchical TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microspheres were successfully prepared via a solvothermal method. The results of the X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that the TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microspheres were anatase phase. The crystalline size of microspheres decreased with increasing Sm{sup 3+} concentrations. Each TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microsphere consists of several dozen nanopetals, which are composed of several aggregated nanothorns. Under 290, 360, 362, and 368 nm excitation, the {sup 4}G{sub 5/2} → {sup 6}H{sub 5/2}, {sup 4}G{sub 5/2} → {sup 6}H{sub 7/2}, and {sup 4}G{sub 5/2} → {sup 6}H{sub 9/2} transitions were observed. The luminescence intensity increased with increasing Sm{sup 3+} concentration, up to about 1.5 mol%, and then decreased abruptly. The peak positions and the shape of emissions were independent of Sm{sup 3+} concentrations. In addition to the aforementioned photoluminescence properties, TiO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} microspheres can possess superior photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB. In addition, the BET surface areas increased with increasing Sm{sup 3+} concentrations, which should be benefit for RhB adsorption.

• OSTI ID: 22345213
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 50; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ADSORPTION
EXCITATION
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PEAKS
PHOTOCATALYSIS
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
SAMARIUM IONS
SYNTHESIS
TITANIUM OXIDES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION