Electrospun Er:TiO2 nanofibrous films as efficient photocatalysts under solar simulated light

TiO2 nanofibrous films with variable amounts of erbium were prepared via electrospinning. Analytical results demonstrated that the doping of erbium inhibited the phase transformation and the crystallite growth of TiO2. The doped samples were more efficient for degradation of methylene blue than TiO2, and an optimal dosage of erbium at 0.5% activated at 773 K achieved the highest degradation rate. The higher photoactivity might be attributable to the transition of 4f electrons of erbium, particle size, phase composition and the increase of the separating rate of photogenerated charges by erbium doping.