Platinum oxide-supported sol-gel prepared CeO2 nanocubes for promoted photodestruction of atrazine under visible light irradiation

We present the formation of cerium oxide (CeO2) anchored with trace amounts of platinum oxide (PtO) nanostructures. These mesoporous photocatalysts were employed for the photodestruction of atrazine (AZ) in water. Descriptions by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy designated the growth of PtO nanoparticles attached to the CeO2 nanocubes. The visible-light absorption of PtOanchored samples was widened than CeO2 thanks to the bandgap minimization to 2.20 eV. The 1.6 g L-1 dose of 0.9% PtO/CeO2 at indicated the ability to mineralize AZ after 40 min with rate of 82.82 x 10-3 min-1 and 97% of reusability.

Automated summary

We have developed cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles with trace amounts of platinum oxide (PtO) anchored on their surfaces for photocatalytic degradation of atrazine (AZ) in water. Characterization by various techniques confirmed the growth of PtO nanoparticles on CeO2 nanocubes. The introduction of PtO widened the visible-light absorption of the CeO2, resulting in a bandgap of 2.20 eV. The PtO/CeO2 catalyst with a concentration of 0.9% PtO was able to mineralize AZ with a rate constant of 82.82 x 10-3 min-1, and it exhibited excellent reusability with 97% retention of activity.