Influence of rare-earth metal on the zinc oxide nanostructures: application in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and p-nitro phenol

Abstract

Abstract Rare-earth cerium (Ce)-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) spherical nanoparticles were synthesized by using the co-precipitation method. The doped materials were characterized by means of the X-ray diffraction, Williamson-Hall Plot, and field emission scanning electron microscopy analyses. The prepared nanoparticles exhibit a hexagonal wurtzite structure as observed from the XRD measurements. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy data confirmed the purity of the prepared samples. The photocatalytic activity of the rare-earth Ce-doped ZnO spherical nanoparticles was investigated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and p-nitrophenol (PNP) solution under UV light radiation. Among the different amounts of dopant, 5 mole% Ce-doped ZnO nanoparticles showed the highest degradation with UV light radiation for both MB dye and PNP solution. The particle size, morphology, and separation of the photo-induced electron–hole pair are the main factors that influence photocatalytic activity. The probable mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of MB and PNP are also explained by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis.