Enhanced photocatalytic performance and morphology evolvement of PbWO4 dendritic nanostructures through Eu3+ doping

Abstract

Eu³⁺ doped PbWO₄ dendritic nanostructures have been prepared by a facile hydrothermal technique and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS and PL spectroscopy. The results indicate that the changing of the Eu³⁺ doping concentration in a reasonable range can adjust the morphology, and has no obvious effect on the phase structure of the obtained materials. Moreover, the Eu³⁺ doping can lead to the enhancement of photocatalytic activity of PbWO₄. Compared with pure PbWO₄ dendritic nanostructures, the PbWO₄:x%Eu³⁺ samples exhibit improved photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of Rhodamine B (RhB). The enhanced performance of the photocatalyst might be ascribed to efficient separation of electron and hole pairs after doping Eu³⁺ into the PbWO₄ lattice.