Band-gap narrowing of TiO2 doped with Ce probed with x-ray absorption spectroscopy

The electronic structure of TiO2 doped with Ce was investigated with x-ray absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Ce doping narrows the band gap of TiO2, as evidenced by a redshift in the absorption edge in the O K-edge spectrum and PL. Narrowing is ascribed to the formation of an impurity band, composed of Ce 4f (Ce3+/Ce4+) and oxygen defect states, that induces tailing of the conduction band. Band gap narrowing extends the photoactivity of TiO2 to visible light. The impurity band located below the minimum of the conduction band traps excited electrons and suppresses recombination, enhancing the photocatalytic activity.