Photoluminescence properties and photocatalytic activities of SiO2@TiO2:Sm3+ nanomaterials

Dual functional Sm3+ ion doped SiO2@TiO2 composites were designed to investigate their luminescence properties and photocatalytic activities under ultraviolet and simulated solar light excitation, respectively. The TiO2:Sm3+ nanoparticles, SiO2@TiO2:Sm3+ nanospheres and SiO2@TiO2:Sm3+ nanorods were successfully fabricated via the solvothermal method followed by the calcination at 700, 800 and 900 °C, respectively. The effects of morphology and calcination temperature on photocatalytic activities and luminescent properties were studied. The results demonstrated that the SiO2@TiO2:Sm3+ nanorods calcined at 700 °C exhibited the highest luminescence intensities. This was attributed to possess the least specific surface area, which decreased the quenching center of surface defects, as well as without rutile phase. Moreover, SiO2@TiO2:Sm3+ nanorods annealed at 800 °C were the optimum for improving the photodegradation efficiency of hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) under simulated solar light irradiation. The degradation experiments results confirmed that the synergistic effect of the crystallinity/Ti–O–Si bond was the main reason for excellent photocatalytic activities. As a result, SiO2@TiO2:Sm3+ nanorods meet our requirements for better photoluminescence intensities and photocatalytic activities. •Dual functional Sm3+ ion doped SiO2@TiO2 composites were designed to investigate their luminescence properties and photocatalytic activities under ultraviolet and simulated solar light excitation, respectively.•The effects of morphology and calcination temperature on photocatalytic activities and luminescent properties were studied.