Enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B by TiO2 modified with Gd2O3 calcined at high temperature

Surface modification with Gd2O3 can control the surface crystalline phase, crystallinity, and crystal size (surface area) of TiO2 calcined at high temperatures. The results from photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B show that upon calcination at high temperature the Gd/TiO2 exhibits higher photocatalytic activity than TiO2. The higher photocatalytic activity of Gd/TiO2 is mainly attributed to an increase in photoinduced charge separation due to the formation of phase junction between anatase and rutile stabilized by surface Gd2O3.