CeO2 photocatalysts derived from Ce-MOFs synthesized with DBD plasma method for methyl orange degradation

CeO2 photocatalysts were successfully derived from Ce-MOFs, which were synthesized with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma method for the first time. The effects of solution concentration, discharge conditions and calcination conditions on the morphology, purity and photocatalysis of the products were investigated. The Ce-MOFs and CeO2 nanomaterials were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, UV-Vis, XPS, BET and ESR. CeO2 derived from Ce-MOFs synthesized under the conditions that discharge voltage of 5.2 kV, the Ce(NO3)(3)center dot 6H(2)O and trimesic acid molar ratio of 1:1, and reactant concentration of 22 mol/L, at calcination temperature of 200 degrees C for 4 h showed the optimum photocatalytic performance, with 98% degradation rate of 50 mg/L methyl orange (MO) solution at 36 min. The high photocatalytic performance was attributed to the novel preparation method, high crystallization, wide range of UV-light absorption and strong adsorption capacity, as well as abundant oxygen vacancy defects. The methodology showed advantages for nano-structured catalysts with defects. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.