Aluminium and cerium co-doped ZnO nanoparticles: Facile and inexpensive synthesis and visible light photocatalytic performances

Facile combustion route synthesized Al and Ce co-doped ZnO nanoparticles photocatalysts were characterized using XRD, SEM, BET, EDS, UV-visible DRS, PL, photocurrent and EIS techniques. XRD and SEM analyses identify that crystallite and particle size is reduced from 13.26 to 11.88 nm with introduction of Al and Ce into ZnO which assists inhibiting the recombination of photo generated charge carriers. UV-visible DRS spectra indicate that optical assimilation of ZnO is significantly increased to visible region (similar to 406 nm) and band gap reduces from 3.18 to 3.06 eV with introduction of Al and Ce co-dopants. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis under visible light illumination confirms the enhancement in visible light activity of Al and Ce co-doped ZnO nanoparticles as photocatalysts. The enhanced activity of Al and Ce co-doped ZnO photocatalyst can be ascribed to enhanced light assimilation, high surface area and efficient charge transfer process. Our results reveal that by incorporating precise amount of Al (similar to 2%) and Ce (similar to 2%) into ZnO, a highly efficient catalyst can be synthesized that have degraded almost 95% methyl orange (MO) dye in just 45 min. Further, the influence of various operational parameters such as solution pH, catalyst dose, dye concentration, airflow rate and light intensity on photodecomposition of MO was evaluated. Furthermore, a possible mechanism for Al and Ce modified ZnO was proposed and designed photocatalysts demonstrates good stability in aqueous medium. (C) 2019 Chinese Society of Rare Earths. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The Al and Ce co-doped ZnO nanoparticles photocatalysts synthesized by facile combustion route exhibit enhanced activity in visible light due to increased light assimilation, larger surface area, and efficient charge transfer process. The introduction of Al and Ce into ZnO reduces the band gap and inhibits recombination of photo generated charge carriers, resulting in improved photocatalytic performance. The synthesized catalyst shows good stability in aqueous medium and can efficiently degrade organic dye pollutants.