Gd doped Cerium Oxide for organic dye degradation and tuning of magnetic properties

Abstract

Rare-earthdoped cerium oxidenanostructures have garnered significant attention among researchers due to their exceptional optical, magnetic and catalytic properties. In this work,Gd-doped CeO2nanoparticles have been developed by a cost-effective and facile chemical synthesis followed bycalcination process.Raman and XRD analysis confirm thatsingle crystalline phase with a cubic fluorite unit cell is formed. XPS reveals the existence of mixed valence states(Ce3+and Ce4+). These mixed valence states contribute toformation of new networks, such as Ce3+-O-Ce4+, Gd3+-O-Ce4+, and Ce3+-O-Ce3+.The absorption spectra of Gd3+doped CeO2nanoparticles shifted redrelated to pure CeO2nanoparticles. It has been found that8 %Gdshowed highestmagnetic characteristics while6 %Gdshows highest photocatalytic activity towardsdegradation of rose bengal dye under UV light that may be attributed to the increase in interplanar distance, fast electron transfer, better electron–hole pair separation, and large surface area.