Optical Properties of Zn-Doped CeO2 Nanoparticles as a Function of Zn Content

Abstract

CeO2 and Zn-doped CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by simple precipitation method in water/isopropanol mixed solvent from cerium nitrate and zinc nitrate with various mole ratios. The precipitates were then calcined at 300°C for 4 hours and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and uv-vis spectroscopy. Characterization by x-ray diffraction shows that high crystallinity of cubic fluorite structure of CeO2 with crystallite size in the range 6 12 nm depending on Zn content. CeO2 nanoparticles exhibits tranparent in the visible region and strong absorbance in the ultra-violet region. It was also found that significant effect of Zn content on transmittance and optical band gap. In addition, Zn substitution into Ce suppressing photocatalytic activity of pure CeO2 nanoparticle under sunlight irradiation. These results suggest that Zn-doped CeO2 nanoparticle is more prommising for safer optical UV-absorbers.