Photocatalytic behavior of heavy La-doped TiO2 films deposited by pulsed laser deposition using non-sintered target

We have investigated the control of photocatalytic behavior under deposited conditions of non-sintered target of different molar ratios with TiO2 and La2O3 from 1:0 to 1:2 for heavily La doping, and post-annealing temperature from 600 degrees C to 1000 degrees C for crystallizing by pulsed laser deposition. We have successfully crystallized heavily La-doped TiO2 films with post-annealing temperature over 800 degrees C and with molar ratio of TiO2:La2O3 over 1:1 on a quartz substrate. Heavily La-doped TiO2 films are observed the decomposition of methylene blue and a water-splitting reaction in photocatalytic behavior under Xe light irradiation. When stoichiometric La-doped TiO2 (TiO2:La2O3 = 1: 1) is synthesized with heat-treatment at 900 degrees C, the best results are obtained under photocatalytic behavior and pure La2Ti2O7 crystalline were obtained. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.