Design of europium doped SiO2–TiO2 hybrids as novel luminescent photocatalyst

SiO2/TiO2:Eu3+ composite materials were facially prepared by the sol–gel technique and all the as-derived powders exhibited europium characteristic red emissions under multiple excitation wavelengths extended to visible range (395 and 465nm). The influence factors such as Si/Ti ratio, orders of hydrolysis, annealing temperature and doping concentration were systematically studied. The novel photocatalytic behavior for removing phenol was thoroughly investigated. ► SiO2/TiO2:Eu3+ with red luminescence was designed. ► The composites can be emissive under multiple excitation wavelengths. ► SiO2/TiO2:Eu3+ can remove phenol under irradiation.