Ordered mesoporous CeO2/ZnO composite with photodegradation concomitant photocatalytic hydrogen production performance

Abstract

In this study, ordered mesoporous zinc oxide (ZnO) precursor was prepared by template method, and then CeO2/ZnO composite was synthesized by hydrothermal method which showed the chrysanthemum-like particle morphology with the ordered mesoporous on the surface of the material. In the prepared composite, heterojunctions were formed between ZnO and CeO2, which induced effective charge separation, and the photocatalytic activity of the composites was enhanced. The photocatalytic hydrogen production concurrent organic pollutants degradation performances were shown in the prepared material. The 10 wt% CeO2 doped sample exhibited the best photocatalytic activity whose hydrogen production amount was 27.104 mmol/g in 3 h, and the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB) was about 97.4% in 150 min under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic hydrogen production performance was study in pollutants water, the hydrogen production amount was 63.59 mmol/g in MB water solution without CH3OH (MeOH) sacrificial agent which was about 2.4 time as in clean water with MeOH sacrificial agent. The vast H2 was produced during the organic pollutants photo-degradation process, and the organic pollutants photo-degradation efficiency was not reduced.