Design of TiO2 nanorods and nanotubes doped with lanthanum and comparative kinetic study in the photodegradation of formic acid

• Evaluation of anisotropic TiO2 materials in the photodegradation of formic acid
• Lanthanum slows down the growth of the anatase crystalline domains.
• Lanthanum favors the formation of surface oxygen vacancies.
• Lanthanum increases the life-time of photo-generated electron–hole pairs.

Lanthanum doped 1D-TiO2 nanomaterials (nanorods and nanotubes) with tuned structural and textural properties have been evaluated in the photocatalytic degradation of formic acid (FA) under UV conditions. La-doped nanorods and nanotubes calcined at 973 K show interesting photocatalytic properties with respect to La-free nanomaterials. The presence of La inhibits TiO2 crystallite growth and increases the lifetime of photo-generated electron–hole pairs.

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