Preparation of La-B-TiO2 Photocatalyst by Sol-Gel and Solvothermal Methods

Abstract

La-TiO₂, B-TiO₂ and La-B-TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared by sol-gel method. The La-TiO₂ containing 0.5 % La presented the maximum photocatalytic activity of 35.4 %. The sample doped with 3 % boron showed the optimum photocatalytic activity. When La content was below 3 %, degradation rate on La-3 % B-TiO₂ was nearly constant around 30 %. However, degradation rate dropped drastically on the sample containing 5 % La. La-B-TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared by solvothermal method. The results indicated that the total volume of N₂ adsorbed on 1 % La-3 %B-TiO₂ increased with the increase of relative pressure P/P_o. The average pore size of the material was 16.29 nm and the total pore volume was 0.412 mL/g. Specific surface area of the material was 101.45 m²/g. When La content was 0.5 %, methyl orange adsorption rate on the material 0.5 % La-3 % B-TiO₂ was less than 5 % and photocatalytic degradation rate was 39.9 %.