Effects of Nd Doping on the Photocatalytic Behavior of Cu₁₁O₂ (VO₄)₆

Nd-doped Cu11O2 (VO4)6 photocatalyst was synthesized by complexing Sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy(EDX). The photocatalytic activity of Nd-doped Cu11O2 (VO4)6 was evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) solution under UV-light. It revealed that the Nd-doped Cu11O2 (VO4)6 prepared with the molar ratio of citric acid to metal inons be 2:1, Nd/Cu molar ratio of 2%, pH=7 and calcinated under 500℃ for 4 hours was pure triclinic phase. In this conditions, the sample had highest photocatalytic activity with the photodegradation rate was about 95.73% or so in 60min under 20W ultraviolet lamp.