The Synthesis of Eu3+ Doped with TiO2 Nano-Powder and Application as a Pesticide Sensor

Using tetrabutyl titanate as precursor, $Eu^{3+}$ doped $TiO_2$ nano-powder was prepared by sol-gel method, the nature of luminescence of nano-powder was studied. The interaction of chlorpyrifos with $Eu^{3+}$ doped $TiO_2$ was studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicated the fluorescence intensity of $Eu^{3+}$ doped $TiO_2$ was quenched by chlorpyrifos and the quenching rate constant ($k_q$) was $1.24{\times}10^{11}\;L/mol{\cdot}s$ according to the Stern-Volmer equation. The dynamics of photoinduced electron transfer from chlorpyrifos to conduction band of $TiO_2$ nanoparticle was observed and the mechanism of electron transfer had been confirmed by the calculation of free energy change (${\Delta}G_{et}$) by applying Rehm-Weller equation as well as energy level diagram. A new rapid method for detection of chlorpyrifos was established according to the fluorescence intensity of $Eu^{3+}$ doped $TiO_2$ was proportional to chlorpyrifos concentration. The range of detection was $5.0{\times}10^{-10}-2.5{\times}10^{-7}mol/L$ and the election limit ($3{\sigma}$) was $3.2{\times}10^{-11}$ mol/L.