Preparation and Photocatalytic Activities of Y~(3+) or Nd~(3+)-doped TiO_2 Nanofibres

TiO2 nanofibres,Y3+-doped and Nd3+-doped TiO2 nanofibres were successfully fabricated by electrospinning using Ti(SO4)2,polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP,Mr=1300000),rare earth oxides and dimethyl formamide(DMF) as raw materials.The samples were characterized by XRD,FESEM,TEM,and TG-DTA.XRD analysis indicated that RE/TiO2(RE=Y,Nd) nanofibres with pure anatase-typed phase and pure rutile-typed phase were obtained by calcination of the relevant composite fibres at 550℃ and 900℃,respectively,and the lattice parameters of TiO2 were remarkably reduced by the doping rare earth ions.FESEM analysis revealed that the average diameter of the RE/TiO2(RE=Y,Nd) nanofibres was about 50nm,and their length was greater than 300μm.Photocatalytic properties of the three nanofibres were investigated by degradation of rhodamine-B and phenol.The results showed that the degradation rate of 1.5mol%Y/TiO2 nanofibres was higher for rhodamine-B,while the degradation rate of 1.0mol%Nd/TiO2 nanofibres was higher for phenol.Therefore,the degradation activity of rare earth ions-doped TiO2 nanofibres changed with the different doping rare earth ions and degradation compounds.