Cerium and europium doped TiO2 thin films deposited by a sol-gel dip-coating process: characterization and photocatalytic activity toward dye degradation

Cerium (Ce) and europium (Eu)-doped TiO2 thin films were obtained by sol-gel dip-coating technique. SEM micrographs showed that the surfaces are covered agglomerated particles due to repeating coating process. XRD patterns presence of anatase phase. Raman spectra revealed peaks recorded at 146 cm-1(Eg) 397 cm-1(B1g) related EIS measurements proved Ce-TiO2 (1wt%) Eu-TiO2 (0.1wt%) photocatalysts possessed a lower electron transfer resistance than pure TiO2, which can lead effective separation electron/ hole pairs during photoreactions. The photoactivity Ce Eu-doped was investigated degradation amido black10B dye (AB) under UV excitation varying initial pH concentrations. It found exhibited higher photocatalytic activity, reaching first-order reaction rate kapp(0.036min-1), t1/2 around 12 min AB removal 98.94%, optimal 3.5 concentration 10ppm compared (t1/2 = 45 min, t1/2=30 min), (kapp 0.022 min-1, kapp 0.026min-1) (94.78%, 96.44%), respectively for (1wt%). Further increase in Eu/Ce amount up (1wt% 0.1wt% Eu) led decrease removal. mineralization using photocatalyst confirmed HPLC analysis.