Influence of gadolinium precursor on the enhanced red shift of Gd/SnO sub(2)-TiO sub(2) nanoparticles and catalytic activity

Gd/SnO sub(2)-TiO sub(2) nanoparticles were synthesized by using ultrasonic and hydrothermal methods. Effect of concentration of gadolinium (Gd) precursor on particle size and activity of nanoparticles was studied. It was observed that the particle size increases with the increase in concentration of gadolinium precursor. Gd/SnO sub(2)-TiO sub(2) nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, SEM, EDX, TGA, FTIR and powder XRD. Band gap calculation was done by using Solid Phase Spectrophotometer to determine the optical properties of nanoparticles. The effect of concentration of Gd on band gap was investigated and red shift was observed for Gd/SnO sub(2)-TiO sub(2) from 5.3 to 2.0 eV. Photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue was carried out to determine the catalytic properties of Gd/SnO sub(2)-TiO sub(2). It was found that Gd/SnO sub(2)-TiO sub(2) nanoparticles prepared with 0.004 M concentration of Gd precursor degraded the dye more effectively as compared to the samples prepared with 0.005 and 0.006 M concentrations of Gd.