Pure TiO2, Eu3+and Sm3+co-doping TiO2composite nanoparticles have been prepared by sol-gel method and characterized by the techniques such as XRD, SEM and DRS. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution was used as a probe reaction to evaluate their photocatalytic activity. The matrix distortion of TiO2nano-particles increases after co-doping of Eu3+and Sm3+and a blue-shift of the absorption profile are clearly observed. The results show that co-doping of Eu3+and Sm3+inhibits the phase transformation of TiO2from anatase to rutile, decreases the diameter of TiO2nano-particles and significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. The Eu3+and Sm3+co-doped into TiO2nano-particles exert a synergistic effect on their photocatalytic activity.
Retraction notice to “Enhanced photocatalytic activity of La and N co-doped TiO2/diatomite composite” [Powder Technology 322 (2017) 296–300]