Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis and solar photoactivity investigation of Ce, B co-modified TiO2 nanoparticles

In this study, Ce and B co-modified TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared using an ultrasonic-assisted sol–gel method. The prepared sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and BET analysis. In order to detect the effect of dopants on the titania, the photocatalytic activity of these as-prepared titania nanoparticles was determined by following the degradation of the reactive dye methylene blue under solar light irradiation. The activity was compared to that of pure titania. It was revealed that the photocatalytic activity of the Ce and B co-modified titania nanoparticles produced a significant enhancement compared to pure titania. The apparent rate constant of the as-prepared co-modified titania was 3 times higher than that of pure titania.

► Ce, B co-modified titania nanoparticles synthesized by ultrasonic assisted sol–gel method. ► The preparation processes are all under mild condition (low temperature). ► The samples exhibited high photocatalytic activity under solar light irradiation.