Synthesis and modification of Ce-Zr oxide compositions as photocatalysts

Abstract

In the paper, Ce-Zr oxide compositions were prepared using the coprecipitation and mechanochemical mixing methods of the initial precipitated oxides CeO2 and ZrO2. The effects of mechanochemical treatment (MChT), hydrothermal treatment (HTT) and microwave treatment (MWT) on the structure and physicochemical properties of the obtained samples were investigated. The obtained materials were characterized using the N2 adsorption/desorption, XRD, thermogravimetry (TG, DTA) and UV–vis/DRS, XPS methods. The photocatalytic properties of the prepared materials were tested as the rhodamine B degradation under visible light. Moreover, their mechanocatalytic activity was investigated. As a result of mechanochemical, hydrothermal and microwave treatment, almost all the obtained materials were characterized by a larger specific surface area. The use of both hydrothermal and microwave treatments of the wet gel resulted in the formation of the solid solution CeO0,2ZrO0,8O2. The obtained samples exhibited an increased photo- and mechanocatalytic activity under visible light.