Synthesis and characterization of Gd-doped PbMoO4 nanoparticles used for UV-light-driven photocatalysis

Gd-doped PbMoO4 nanoparticles were prepared by a refluxing method at 80 degrees C for 2 h. Effect of molar content of Gd dopant on phase, morphology and optical properties was studied. The as-prepared Gddoped PbMoO4 samples can be indexed to pure tetragonal PbMoO4 phase. The particles size of PbMoO4 is decreased with increasing in the molar content of Gd dopant from 15.20 +/- 3.04 nm for pure PbMoO4 to 8.72 +/- 1.53 nm for 5 mol% Gd-doped PbMoO4. The absorption of 5 mol% Gd-doped PbMoO4 nanoparticles shows red-shift caused by lattice distortion of PbMoO4. The photocatalytic performance of 5 mol% Gddoped PbMoO4 nanoparticles shows the highest degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) of 97.92% under UV radiation and 67.65% under visible radiation because Gd3+ dopant as an electron acceptor plays the role in enhancing the separation of electron-hole pair. (c) 2020 Chinese Society of Rare Earths. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Gd-doped PbMoO4 nanoparticles prepared by refluxing method at 80 degrees C for 2 hours exhibit superior optical properties and photocatalytic performance, mainly attributed to the influence of Gd doping on crystal structure and separation of electron-hole pairs.