Ce3+/Ce4+-Doped ZrO2/CuO Nanocomposite for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue under Visible Light
Manh Nhuong Chu, Lan Nguyễn, Mai Xuan Truong, Tra Huong, Thi Tu Anh Duong, Thi To Loan Nguyen, Pham Mai An, Thi Kim Ngan Tran, Thi Cam Quyen Ngo, Van Huan Pham
Abstract
In recent years, photocatalysis has been used as an environmentally friendly method for the degradation of organic pigments in water. In this study, Ce3+/Ce4+-doped ZrO2/CuO as a mixed semiconductor oxide was successfully prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. The Ce3+/Ce4+-doped ZrO2/CuO has shown high degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB), and the maximum degradation percentage was observed to be 94.5% at 180 min under irradiation visible light. The photocatalytic activity increases significantly by doping Ce3+/Ce4+ in ZrO2/CuO for MB degradation. Ce3+/Ce4+ doping is shown to reduce the (e-/h+) recombination rate and improve the charge transfer, leading to enhanced photocatalytic activity of materials. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR, EDS, BET and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS).