TITLE:
Photo-Electrochemical Studies on TiO2-Doped Ce (III/IV) Oxides Nanoparticles in Aqueous Electrolytes
AUTHORS:
Kasem K. Kasem, Heather Ramey, Valeed Ahmed
KEYWORDS:
Photoelectrochemical; Doped TiO2; Ceric Oxide; Nanoparticles; Photocatalysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Materials Sciences and Applications,
Vol.4 No.10,
October
17,
2013
ABSTRACT: Photoelectrochemical studies on TiO2 doped with Ce2O3 or CeO2 took place in aqueous solutions of [Fe(CN)6]4- as the source of hydrated electrons. Our studies show that doping TiO2 with CeO2 gave better photocatalytic reduction of [Fe(CN)6]3- than TiO2 doped with Ce2O3. However the TiO2 assemblies doped with either Ce(III) or Ce(IV) oxides give less photochemical reduction of [Fe(CN)6]3- that the oxides of pure metals (Ti or Ce). In both cases a lowering of the band gaps of TiO2 was noticed. Immobilized TiO2 doped with Ce oxides on a FTO (Fluorine Ten Oxide) surface gave greater photocurrent with I2/I3– than that recorded for [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- redox systems. Our studies indicate that the TiO2 doped with Ce2O3 or CeO2 maintained photoactivity after being immobilized in thin solid sheets and can be used in all solid state photoelectron-chemical cells.