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Broad band and enhanced photocatalytic behaviour of Ho3+-doped Bi2O3 micro-rods

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Abstract

Band-gap-tuned Bi2O3 micro-rods were synthesized using simple co-precipitation method by doping 5 wt% Ho3+ to mitigate the concentration of toxic dye from the polluted water using it as a photocatalyst. Structure and morphology of the prepared samples were identified using powder X-ray diffraction technique and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Elemental composition and chemical state of the prepared samples were analyzed from the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Considerable absorption in IR region was observed for Ho3+ doped Bi2O3 due to the electronic transitions of 5I8→5F4, 5I8→5F5, and 5I8→5I5, 5I6. The excellent ultra-violet (UV), white and infrared light (IR)-driven photocatalytic activity were suggested for pure and doped Bi2O3 samples. Ho3+-doped Bi2O3 micro-rods exhibits a better photocatalytic activity under white light irradiation. The consequence of the bandgap and the synergetic effect of Ho3+ and Bi2O3 on the photocatalytic degradation of MB were investigated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanophotonics Laboratory, Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, 620 015, India

    Neena Prasad & Balasubramanian Karthikeyan

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  1. Neena Prasad
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  2. Balasubramanian Karthikeyan
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Correspondence to Balasubramanian Karthikeyan.

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Prasad, N., Karthikeyan, B. Broad band and enhanced photocatalytic behaviour of Ho3+-doped Bi2O3 micro-rods. Appl. Phys. A 124, 421 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-1802-3

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