Effect of CeO2 coupling on the structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of ZnO nanoparticle

Abstract

This research work presents the microwave assisted combustion synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic applications of ZnO–CeO2 coupled nano metal oxide. ZnO, CeO2 and the coupled oxides ZnCe, Zn2Ce and ZnCe2 with ZnO and CeO2 in the molar ratio 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2 respectively were fabricated by microwave assisted metal nitrate-urea solution combustion synthesis, without using any organic solvent or surfactant. As-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy(PL). The experiments of photocatalytic activity indicate that Zn2Ce nanoparticles exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance in the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). 95% of 2,4-DCP molecules were decomposed by Zn2Ce in 240 min. The better photocatalytic degradation ability of Zn2Ce compared to ZnCe, ZnCe2 or single component ZnO and CeO2 nanoparticles is attributed to the improved separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs.