The Cerium/Boron Insertion Impact in Anatase Nano-Structures on the Photo-Electrochemical and Photocatalytic Response

Boron- and cerium-doped titania (Anatase) were prepared via sol-gel method. Phase composition morphology assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), BET, diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), XPS. Photo-electrochemistry of these materials, deposited onto fluorine-doped SnO2 (FTO), was investigated in acid acid-containing methanol. The boron-doped sample showed the best opto-electronic properties among samples. On other hand, samples annihilate to a certain extent surface states, however, photogenerated charge separation limited, certainly associated Ce3+/Ce4+ species. substitutional effect boron ions for O sites interstitial confirmed XRD XPS analyses.