Hydrothermal Synthesis, Optical and Photocatalytic Properties of Yttrium-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Yttrium-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles are synthesized using a hydrothermal method. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles with different yttrium content are characterized using infrared Fourier spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‑ray diffraction, and small-angle X-ray scattering. Optimal processing modes (washing with solvents and subsequent thermal annealing) are selected to obtain particles with improved photocatalytic properties and minimal carbon content of residual organic derivatives. Yttrium-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles demonstrate higher photocatalytic activity compared to the undoped sample, which is explained by the formation of additional energy levels within the band gap that reduces the intensity of the reverse recombination process. The results obtained facilitate the selection of the most optimal modes and methods for obtaining titanium dioxide nanoparticles with high photocatalytic activity.