Nd2O3-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays with high photoelectrocatalytic activity

Nd2O3-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays (Nd-TNTAs) were successfully prepared by hydrothermal treatment of anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTAs) in 0.01 M Nd(NO3)3 solution at 180 °C for 2 h. Nd-TNTAs have similar morphology with the pristine TNTAs. The decoration of Nd2O3 makes not only the absorption in the ultraviolet area enhanced but also the band edge absorption shifted. Nd-TNTAs exhibit high photoelectrocatalytic activity in degradation of organic compounds. The degradation efficiency of methyl orange using Nd-TNTAs after 3 h test period is approximately 64%, which is almost twice as high as that using TNTAs. Besides as the inspired important ecomaterials, Nd-TNTAs prepared in the present work are promising for applications in dye-sensitized solar cells or as luminescent and biological materials.

► Nd2O3-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays (Nd-TNTAs) were successfully prepared.
► Nd-TNTAs have similar morphology with the pristine TNTAs.
► The decoration makes the absorption enhanced and the band edge absorption shifted.
► Nd-TNTAs have high photoelectrocatalytic activity in degrading organic compounds.
► Nd-TNTAs are promising ecomaterials and also have other important applications.