One-pot synthesis of multifunctionalized Nd2O3 dispersed ZnO nanocomposites for enhancing electrical, optical, and photocatalytic applications

Abstract

Herein, the proposed work reports a simple chemical approach; solution combustion method to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles and Nd-doped ZnO (Nd2O3-ZnO) nanocomposites (0.001 g–5 g) using the combustion technique. The combustion approach is considered one of the environmentally friendly, cost-effective, high yields, and most straightforward procedures for rapidly preparing nanomaterials on a large scale. The prepared nano samples were characterized through standard analytical methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis–NIR, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The XRD results and SEM image showed that the manufactured Nd2O3–ZnO nanostructured samples were crystalline with uniform distribution of Nd dopants on the host ZnO samples, clear with higher Nd concentration ratios. Moreover, as the Nd was raised in the Nd2O3–ZnO nanostructures, the direct energy bandgap values of the Nd: ZnO nanocomposites were detected to decline from 3.35 eV for pure ZnO to reach 3.26 eV, and the indirect bandgap diminished from 3.28 eV to 3.20 eV. All prepared Nd2O3–ZnO samples were applied for photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B, Methylene Blue, and both. The photocatalytic efficiency increased with the Nd doping ratio. The best photocatalyst is 0.5 g Nd2O3 doped-ZnO, which degrades Methylene Blue, Rhodamine B, and combination solutions containing both dyes with 100% against ZnO alone with 80% within 60 min under the visible light. Compared to the pure ZnO nanoparticles, the synthesized Nd2O3–ZnO nanostructured samples disclosed improvements in the structural morphology, optical, energy bandgaps, dielectric refraction, and electrical and photocatalytic properties.