Effect of heat treatment on crystal phase and photocatalytic activity of Tm doped TiO ₂ nanoparticles

Abstract Tm doped TiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesised by hydrolysis-precipitation method. The effect of heat treatment on the crystal phase and photocatalytic activity of Tm doped TiO2 nanoparticles has been studied. The prepared samples were characterised by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared and diffuse reflection spectrum analysis. The results show that Tm3+ doping can effectively inhibit the phase transformation from antase to rutile and decrease the crystallite size of nano-TiO2 particles. There is an optimal Tm doping (1·4 mol.-%) after calcination at 550°C for the photocatalytic activity of methylene blue degradation.