Lanthanide doped bismuth tungstates: an investigation for LED and photocatalysis applications

Abstract

In this work, we studied optical, photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical properties of a series of lanthanide-doped double layered Aurivillius type bismuthoxides. The visible-light harvesting photocatalysts doped with Eu, Pr, Nd, Tm, Ho and Ceions were synthesized by solid-state synthesis method using lanthanide precursors ranging from 0.2 to 10 mol % and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, luminescence of Pr and Euion doped catalysts are evaluated. Photoelectrochemical behaviour of the powders was also investigated. Best photoelectrochemical response is achieved with Tm ion doped sample.