SYNTHESIS AND INVESTIGATION OF PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF CeO2: Eu3+, Al3+ NANOMATERIALS`

Abstract

This paper reports the photocatalytic properties of CeO₂:4%Eu³⁺, xAl³⁺ (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8% mol) phosphors that were synthesized by a facile combustion method. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-rays (EDX), and UV–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). XRD analysis showed the formation of a single-phase fluorite CeO₂. SEM images confirmed the spherical-like-shaped particles with an average size of about 60 nm. Especially, all the samples exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, and they revealed degradation capacities of approximately 98% after 90 min under ultra-violet (UV-C) lamp irradiation (λ = 254 nm) at room temperature. There results indicate that the CeO₂:Eu³⁺, Al³⁺ materials are suitable for photocatalytic applications.