The structural defects and UV-VIS spectral characterization of TiO2 particles doped in the lattice with Cr3+ cations

Titania nanoparticles doped with Cr3+ (2% relative to molar quantity of titania) were prepared and examined by EDS, HRTEM, XRD, and UV-VIS analysis. HRTEM images showed the detailed atomic arrays and vacancy defects of the doped Titania nanocrystals and revealed that the implanted Cr element existed in titania mainly as Cr3+ ions which located at the lattice positions of Ti4+ ions. Compared with pure titania, the UV-VIS spectra of the Cr3+ doped titania show significantly increased absorbance in visible light region. This indicated that the presence of the Cr3+ ions affected the lattice structure of titania nanocrystals and plays an reformative role in spectral feature of titania.