Fabrication, characterization and photocatalytic activity of La-doped ZnO nanowires

La-doped ZnO nanowires with different doping concentrations were synthesized via a solvothermal synthesis route, using ethanol as the solvent. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) together with an energy dispersion X-ray spectrum (EDS) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and UV–vis spectroscopy. The results of XRD, EDS and XPS revealed that La3+ was successfully doped into ZnO lattice. The observation of TEM and FESEM showed that the obtained La3+-doped ZnO nanowires were homogenous with an average diameter of 15–25 nm. The photocatalytic activity of pure and La3+-doped ZnO samples was studied by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The result showed that La3+ doping concentration had a remarkable effect on the efficiency of photocatalytic activity, with the optimal doping content being determined to be 2 at% in terms of the photocatalytic activity efficiency.