Photo-electrocatalytic activity of praseodymium oxide modified titania nanorods

摘要

ABSTRACT Modification of semiconductor oxides leads to a major development in functional characteristics. Characterisation of Pr6O11-TiO2, fabricated by a cost-effective hydrothermal – decomposition method reveals the nanorod like structure of this catalyst. The XRD pattern definite the formation of face-centred cubic or cubic close-packed structure of Pr6O11 and the high crystallinity indicate the existence of anatase TiO2. XPS analysis indicates the presence of both Pr3+and Pr4+ ions in Pr6O11. Pr6O11-TiO2 is more photoactive under visible light than Pr6O11, prepared TiO2 and TiO2-P25 (80 Anatase and 20 Rutile mixture) in the degradation of toxic azo dyes. Pr6O11-TiO2 is stable and recyclable consecutively. Pr6O11-TiO2 catalyst shows higher electrocatalytic activity in methanol oxidation than pure TiO2. These results reveal new insights on the efficiency of catalysts in photo- and electrocatalytic applications.