Preparation of Ce-doped 001-TiO₂ Photocatalyst and Study on Its High-Efficiency Photocatalytic Degradation Performance and Mechanism for PFOA

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is widely used in industrial and commercial applications. Prolonged exposure to PFOA can lead to developmental and reproductive toxicity, liver damage, endocrine disruption, and potential carcinogenicity, posing a severe threat to both the ecological environment and human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an efficient and environmentally friendly technology for PFOA wastewater treatment. Photocatalytic technology has attracted significant attention due to its low cost and environmental friendliness, with the key focus being the development of highly efficient photocatalysts. In this study, Ce-doped 001-TiO₂ was prepared using a solvothermal method. Its microstructure, morphology, and photoelectric properties were characterized by various methods. The degradation performance of this catalyst towards simulated PFOA wastewater under visible light was also investigated. The results demonstrated that Ce/001-TiO₂ exhibited good dispersion. The synergistic effect of crystal facet modulation and Ce doping facilitated efficient spatial separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers, resulting in a reduced bandgap and an expanded light absorption range for the composite photocatalyst, thereby significantly enhancing its photocatalytic performance. Under simulated sunlight irradiation, Ce/001-TiO₂ achieved a 95.4% degradation efficiency for high-concentration PFOA wastewater (5 mg/L) within 240 minutes. This study provides a feasible and practical approach for the efficient degradation of PFOA wastewater.