Nanoparticles of anatase TiO2 doped with 2 at.% Sc3+ and 2 at.% V5+ ions were
synthesized by sol-gel method. Average crystal sizes of TiO2, TiO2+2 at.% Sc, TiO2+2 at.% V and
TiO2+2 at.% (Sc+V) calculated from XRD patterns are 18.0, 16.9, 18.0, 16.2 nm, respectively.
HRTEM images of TiO2 and TiO2+2 at.% (Sc+V) exhibit well-defined lattice fringe. The lattice
spacings of TiO2 and TiO2+2 at.% (Sc+V) are both measured to be 3.3 Å, which correspond to the
distance between the (101) planes of anatase TiO2. Raman spectra of the samples demonstrate the
well dispersion of Sc3+ and V5+ ions in the TiO2 matrix. UV-vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectra
of the samples show the characteristics of TiO2, and the diffuse reflectance spectra of TiO2+2 at.% V
and TiO2+2 at.% (Sc+V) exhibit red shifts and weak wide absorptions in the visible region of
400-600 nm.