An investigation on synthesis and photocatalytic properties of Eo-doped anatase TiO2 coated magnetite

School of Applied Chemistry, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang 110142, China

lnstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China

E-mail : shzhl2000@163.com     Fax : 86-24-89383296

Manuscript received online 21 June 2012, revised 28 June 2012, accepted 07 August 2012

Preparation of Eu-doped anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) coated magnetite (Fe₃O₄) photocatalysts (Eu/TiO₂/ Fe₃O₄) and their photocatalytic properties under UV and visible light were reported. The composite photocatalysts were prepared by coating photoactive Eu/TiO₂ onto magnetic Fe₃O₄ through the hydrolysis of tetrabutyltitanate (Ti(OC₄H₉)4) in water/oil (w/o) microemulsion with precursors of Eu(NO₃)₃ and Ti(OC₄H₉)₄ in the presence of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The morphological, structural and optical properties of the prepared samples were characterized by BET surface area, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The effect of Eu ion content on the photocatalytic activity was studied, and the result revealed that 0.15 mol% Eu/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ exhibited the highest photoactivity. The photocatalytic activities of prepared photocatalysts in UV and visible light were estimated by measuring the decomposition rate of phenol (50 mg/L) in an aqueous solution. The results showed that the prepared photocatalyst was activated by visible light and used as effective catalyst in photooxidation reactions. The photocatalytic performance of Eu/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ was almost 3.0 times higher than that of single phase TiO₂ (either TiO₂ prepared by same method or Degussa P25) and TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ for degradation of phenol under visible light. In addition, the possibility of cyclic usage of the prepared photocatalyst was also confirmed. Moreover, the prepared composite exhibits paramagnetic behaviors at room temperature and could be easily recovered from the medium by a simple magnetic process. It can therefore be potentially applied for the treatment of water contaminated by organic pollutants.