Effects of rare earth elements on photocatalytic antibacterial properties of nanometer TiO2 powders

Nanometer Ce/TiO2 functional materials with photocatalystic antibacterial properties were prepared by dipping TiO2 nanometer powders into RE( NO3) . nH(2)O solutions, filtrating, drying and heat treatment, and the enhancement mechanisms of Ce on the nanometer TiO2 were studied by electronic spin resonance (ESR) The results show that TiO for photocatalystic antibacterial properties is strengthened evidently by adding Ce, which has a high efficiency of pholocatalystic antibacterial properties with the light extent of visible light and ultraviolet radiation. The basic reason for obtaining the strengthened result is that the effective wave length of photocatalystic properties of TiO2 can be expanded to visible light area with the induction of the rare earth elements, whether or not ultraviolet light exists, nanometer TiO2 can produce a great deal of hydroxylic radical( . OH) by treating with rare earth elements.