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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