La-Ce doped TiO2 nanocrystals: a review on synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is one of the best semiconductor photocatalysts due to its high stability, oxidative power, non-toxicity, low cost etc. But its photocatalytic activity is limited due to rapid recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pair, wide band gap and anatase to rutile phase transformation. These disadvantages can be eliminated by introducing dopants into the TiO2 nanocrystals. Sol-gel and hydrothermal methods can be used for the synthesis of doped and co-doped TiO2 nanocrystals. Advanced characterization techniques can be used for the study of phase structure, optical properties, thermal properties, surface area, morphological changes and photocatalytic activity of doped and co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles. Doping inhibits the anatase to rutile phase transformation and suppresses the recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pair which enhances the photocatalytic activity. Here we made a review on the synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of La, Ce doped and co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles.