TiO2 sols modified by rare earth (RE) ions (Ce4+, Eu3+, or Nd3+) were prepared by coprecipitation-peptization method. The photocatalysis activity was studied by investigating the photodegradation effects of active brilliant red dye X-3B. It is found that TiO2 sols modified by Ce4+, Eu3+, or Nd3+ have the anatase crystalline structure, which are prepared at 70°C. All REn+-TiO2 sol samples have uniform nanoparticles with similar morphology, which are homogenously distributed in aqueous colloidal systems. The particle sizes are 10, 8, and 12 nm for Nd3+-TiO2, Eu3+-TiO2, and Ce4+-TiO2, respectively.The character of ultrafine and positive charge sol particles contributes to the good adsorption of X-3B dye molecule on the surface of titania (about 30% X-3B adsorption amount). Experimental results exhibit that REn+-TiO2 sol photocatalysts have the capability to photodegrade X-3B under visible light irradiation. Nd3+-TiO2 and Eu3+-TiO2 show higher photocatalytic activity than Cea+-TiO2, which is due to the difference of standard redox potential of REn+/RE(n-1)+. REn+-TiO2 sols demonstrate more excellent interfacial adsorption and photodegradation effects to X-3B than P25 TiO2 crystallites. Moreover, the degradation mechanism of X-3B is proposed as dye photosensitization and electron scavenging by rare earth ions.
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