Effect of Erbium on the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 /Ag Nanocomposites under Visible Light Irradiation.

Erbium co-doped TiO2 /Ag catalysts are synthesized by using a simple, one-step solvothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The catalysts exhibit anatase crystal structures with increased visible light absorption compared with pure TiO2 . Enhanced photocatalytic activity is observed with Er co-doped TiO2 /Ag nanocomposites for Rhodamine B degradation under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of 1 % Er co-doped TiO2 /Ag is much higher than that of TiO2 /Ag, TiO2 /Er, pure TiO2 , and commercial Degussa P25. The kinetics of the degradation process are studied and the pseudo-first-order rate constant (k) and half-life time (t1/2 ) of the reaction are calculated. The enhanced activity might be accredited to the efficient separation of electron-hole pairs by silver and higher visible light absorption of TiO2 induced by Er.