A study on microwave synthesis of unique Zn1-3xCuxCexCrxO nanoparticles with efficient photocatalytic reactivity under visible sunlight irradiation

Abstract

The study investigates the synthesis and characterization of Cu, Ce, and Cr co-doped ZnO nanoparticles (Zn1-3xCuxCexCrxO with x = 0.00, 0.03, and 0.05) using a microwave-assisted sol–gel technique. Powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the monoclinic structure of the nanocrystalline ZnO with an average crystallite size ranging from 41 nm to 47 nm. Fourier-transform infrared analysis revealed chemisorption of H2O and CO2 onto the ZnO surface upon exposure to the atmosphere. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Zn, Cu, Ce, Cr, and O in the samples. Scanning electron microscopy images depicted agglomerated crystals with both agglomeration and non-agglomeration of smaller crystallites. Notably, a red shift in the UV–Vis spectrum was observed at a 3 % doping concentration, with an increase in photocatalytic efficiency from 56 % to 67 % compared to pure ZnO. Furthermore, an overall enhancement in photocatalytic performance was noted with increasing doping concentration, indicating potential applications in organic pollutant degradation. The study also highlighted a decrease in the band gap between pure and doped ZnO with escalating doping content, suggesting promising prospects for photocatalytic applications by suppressing carrier recombination.