Photocatalytic activity of La3+/S/TiO2 photocatalyst under visible light

A novel lanthanum and sulfur co-doped TiO2 photocatalyst (La3+/S/TiO2) was synthesized using precipitation-dipping method, and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Compared with the S-doped TiO2, La3+-doped TiO2 and the standard Degussa P25 photocatalysts, the La3+/S/TiO2 photocatalyst calcined at 450 °C for 2 h showed the strongest absorption for visible light and highest activities for degradation of reactive blue 19 dye in aqueous solution under visible light (λ > 400 nm) irradiation. It was also discovered that the co-doping of La3+ and S hindered the aggregation and growth of TiO2 particles, and the doping of La3+ accelerated slightly the anatase-to-rutile phase transition.