Preparation and photocatalytic property of Nd-doped TiO2 photocatalyst

The Nd-TiO₂ photocatalyst samples were prepared by sol-gel method for improving the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂. The resulting materials were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and DRS. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was evaluated by degradation of methyl orange under UV irradiation. It was found Nd doping retard the growth of crystalline size and the phase transformation from anatase to rutile. Neodymium doping could bring about remarkable improvement in the photoactivity and the optimum enhancement of photoactivity is seen for 0.5 at. % Nd doped Titania. This high activity was attributed to produce the lattice distortion and inhibit efficiently of the recombination of the electron-hole by Nd³⁺.