Improving the thermal stability and photocatalytic activity of nanosized titanium dioxide via La3+ and N co-doping

▶ Nitrogen and La3+ doping inhibits the phase transformation of TiO2. ▶ Nitrogen and La3+ doping inhibits crystallite growth of TiO2. ▶ Nitrogen and La3+ doping enhances the thermal stability of TiO2 structure. ▶ Nitrogen/La3+ co-doped TiO2 shows the highest photocatalytic activity.