TiO2/CeO2 Core/Shell nanostructures for photocatalytic and photo electrochemical applications

Abstract

• TiO 2 /CeO 2 core/shell nanostructures are synthesized via facile chemical hydrolysis method. • TC0.1 samples exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency of 36 % on the degradation of Clitoria ternatea and 71% on the degradation of Methylene blue. • Moreover, TC0.1 sample has the maximum photo conversion efficiency of 0.70 % and also has the maximum specific capacitance of 206F/g −1 . TiO 2 /CeO 2 core/shell nanostructures are synthesized at various concentrations by chemical hydrolysis method and the characterized for structural and optical properties with an intention to study the photocatalytic and photo electrochemical activities from the degradation of methylene blue and floral dye. The XRD analysis is used to determine the crystalline nature and also used to calculate other physical parameters such as, lattice strain, dislocation density and lattice constant of the synthesised samples. The formation of core/shell structures are confirmed by SEM and TEM analysis. As prepared core/shell nanostructures are having high absorption in the ultraviolet range. Among the all synthesised nanostructures, TC0.1 shows the better photocatalytic and photo electrochemical performance, which is confirmed by Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV), Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), and Mott-Schottky (MS) analysis. TC0.1 had the maximum specific capacitance of 206Fg −1 while pure TiO 2 has specific capacitance of 178Fg −1 . The enhanced performance of the TC0.1 sample is mainly attributed to the the maximum flat band potential, resulting in the excellent charge separation and transition.