Synthesis of rare earth doped TiO2 nanorods as photocatalysts for lignin degradation. Issue 40 (24th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Liang; Zhao, Xueyuan; Cao, Lixin; Moon, Ji-Won; Gu, Baohua; Wang, Wei
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 7:Issue 40(2015)
• Page Start: 16695
• Page End: 16703
• Publication Date: 2015-09-24
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03537f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Using novel RE–TiO2 NRs as catalysts, lignin can be photodegraded effectively and rapidly under simulated sunlight through two reaction routes. Abstract : A two-step process is developed to synthesize rare earth doped titania nanorods (RE–TiO2 NRs) as photocatalysts for efficient degradation of lignin under simulated sunlight irradiation. In this approach, protonated titanate nanotubes with layered structures were first prepared by a hydrothermal approach, and rare earth metal ions were subsequently bound to the negatively charged surface of the synthesized titanate via electrostatic incorporation. The as-synthesized RE–TiO2 NRs after calcination generally showed much higher photocatalytic efficiencies than those of undoped TiO2 NRs or the commercial P25 TiO2 photocatalyst. Using methyl orange (MO) as a probing molecule, we demonstrate that Eu–TiO2 NRs are among the best for degrading MO, with an observed rate constant of 4.2 × 10 −3 s −1 . The La 3+, Sm 3+, Eu 3+ and Er 3+ doped TiO2 NRs also showed higher photocatalytic efficiencies in degrading MO than the commercial P25 TiO2 . We further demonstrate that lignin can be photodegraded effectively and rapidly at room temperature under simulated sunlight through two reaction routes, which could be important in controlling ways of lignin depolymerization or the formation of reaction products.